It is believed that heavy smoke and excitement triggered the attack. By late summer 1988, every returning merchant will be back in business, but restoration of Creston Park Shopping Center will take nearly a year. Some of the damaged businesses relocate, and Hamlin Jewelers goes out of business. All county roads are officially closed as plow crews and deputies cannot see in whiteouts and are overwhelmed by drifts. Firefighters struggle to get to fires in Milton, Orfordville, Footville and Brodhead that are caused by the freakish lightning.
Trees topple and tangle power lines, scattering outages around the area.
Schools, businesses and industries close. Mail is delayed. Court proceedings are postponed. The post office will be on Milton Avenue with a part-time postal substation established downtown. Blackhawk Technical Institute becomes Blackhawk Technical College and adds a building that houses most of the programs previously housed in its old Beloit campus.