A late-season winter storm slammed northern Michigan yesterday with heavy snow, wind, and ice, snapping power lines and cutting electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Rural counties reported downed poles and blocked roads as local departments and utilities shifted into full emergency response mode.
Utilities stage large restoration push
Consumers Energy said it had rolled out nearly all available company and contractor crews in a large restoration push. More than 700 crews were working 16-hour shifts, with mobile command centers and storm trailers positioned in Houghton Lake and Cadillac to reach the hardest-hit spots.
According to Consumers Energy, teams were zeroing in on damaged circuits in Alcona, Crawford, Iosco, Manistee, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon and Wexford counties. The utility urged customers to keep an eye on its online outage map for the latest restoration time estimates as work continues.
Snow and wind took down lines across counties
FOX 2 Detroit reported that heavy snowfall and strong gusts knocked down power lines across parts of the northern Lower Peninsula, leaving many residents stuck with both no power and a lot of snow to shovel.
The National Weather Service in Gaylord had issued winter-weather hazards for the region and warned that icing and poor visibility would make travel hazardous while repair crews tried to reach damaged circuits. Forecasters said conditions remained dangerous for travel in many rural areas as the cleanup continued.
What residents should do now
Officials are urging residents to treat every downed wire as energized, stay well away and report it immediately to emergency services or their utility. People are also being asked to avoid nonessential travel until crews can clear roads and remove debris.
Generators should only be used outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Ready.gov offers detailed tips on safe generator use and how to handle food during extended outages. For help locating a warming center or shelter close to home, residents can check their utility’s outage resources or dial 2-1-1 for local options.
