CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Hundreds of South Charlotte homeowners spent Saturday afternoon without power.
One mother said the sweltering temperatures were a concern for her baby's health.
Karen Cox's four-month-old son had kidney surgery on Thursday. She said when she lost power Saturday morning, she had to figure out what to do to follow the doctor's plan for his recovery.
"He just had surgery two days ago, and I have to keep him cool. So I'm coming outside to 90 degrees to stay cool," Cox said.
Cox's electricity stayed on during the storm Friday night, so she said she was shocked when she lost power in the hours after the rain and lightning stopped.
"We weren't expecting a power outage. It's 75 degrees in the hospital. Maybe I should have stayed there," Cox said.
Severe thunderstorms Friday night left thousands in the dark in Charlotte and the surrounding counties.
At the height of the storm, 26,000 homes and businesses in North Carolina were without power, including more than 12,000 in Mecklenburg County.
As of Saturday evening, about 1,200 homes in Mecklenburg County were still without power.
Eyewitness News spoke to several homeowners in the Mountain Brook neighborhood near SouthPark Mall - including many elderly residents - who said they had no choice but to suffer through the heat without air conditioning.
"It's hard to deal with, and I understand that. But at the same time it's still frustrating for everyone else," said Will Martin.
A Duke Energy spokesperson told Eyewitness News all power should be fully restored throughout Mecklenburg County early Sunday morning.
Cox said the key is to walk as quickly as possible in the shade.
"I get a breeze on my forehead," she said. "At home it's just stagnant because the ceiling fans don't work."
Eyewitness News saw several utility crews in the Mountain Brook neighborhood Saturday evening, working to get power restored.
Karen Cox said her power was fully restored Saturday night.
Severe Storms Cause Damage In Charlotte Area
The American Red Cross has also been assisting families that were displaced because of Friday's storms.
A house on Mallard Creek Road caught fire due to a lightning strike.
It took almost two dozen firefighters to put out the fire. Medics treated three people, including a firefighter at the scene.
The firefighter was treated for dehydration.
A male resident suffered an asthma attack, and firefighters said the man's wife tripped and cut her arm while trying to get out of the burning house.
Four adults and two children were displaced when a tree fell on their home on Kendrick Avenue.
Another tree fell on Old Steele Creek Road and displaced two adults.
In Salisbury, a tree fell on top of a car on Patterson Road. The homeowner said three trees fell on her property within minutes.
Concord police had to reroute traffic after power lines fell on Highway 29. Officers blocked traffic at Rock Hill Church Road.
Heavy rain in a short amount of time also caused flash flooding on several roads.
The severe weather storm disrupted plans for thousands of families. All high school football games at Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools were called off.
Parents and students at West Charlotte High School ran for cover in the parking lots at the skies opened up.
Strong winds brought down trees and limbs near the school, including one that damaged two cars parked on the street.
Many CMS football games were rescheduled for Tuesday.