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CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) – All trials in St. Louis County Courts are on hold after heavy storms knocked out power to the St. Louis County government complex on Monday. Officials believe a lightning strike caused the outage. Trials will be postponed for a week and the court may not reopen until Thursday, but judges continue to hear restraining order requests and in-custody warrants. County Executive Charlie Dooley urged anyone who has business to do with the county to call ahead. The county administration, courts and annex buildings and the county jail all lost power. Backup generators provided power to the jail, which houses 1,120 inmates. Officials said 150,000 volts of electricity surged through wires and AmerenUE’s 34,500-volt transformers, destroying the main and backup electrical switches. Temporary replacement switches are being trucked in from Houston.
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