Thousands remain without power after damaging weekend winds

Saginaw, Michigan (WNEM) – Thousands of people remain without power after high winds hit central Michigan.

Many schools in TV5 viewing areas are closed today due to power outages. You can see school holidays here.

Over the weekend, gusts of wind in excess of 65 mph occurred.

Consumers Energy announced Monday morning that it has restored power to 70% of its customers affected by the storm. It is hoped that the restoration work will continue as the weather is favorable.

Scott McIntosh, one of Consumers Energy’s Storm Event Executives, said: “We know how frustrating power outages can be, but our customers need to know that our team is committed to getting the job done as quickly and safely as possible. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”

Over 140,000 Consumers Energy customers were affected by the severe weather.

Customers can visit this link to report an outage or check outage status.

Consumers recommend that residents stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and keep children and pets away.

Other safety tips are:

• Watch out for crew members working along the road. Drivers can slow down or stop, wait for oncoming traffic to pass, and pass workers safely on the side of the road.
• Call 2-1-1 if you’re looking for help connecting to resources that provide assistance in the community. 2-1-1 is a free service statewide.
• Do not use the generator in attached garages, basements, enclosed patios, or near air intakes. Doing so can cause the generator to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas. More guidance on safe generator use can be found here.
• Consumers Energy cuts or removes trees that impede power restoration efforts. Once it is safe to do so, it is the responsibility of the individual property owner to clean up debris from tree felling and removal during storm emergencies.
• In some cases, the mast that holds the electrical service wires to your home or business may be damaged or torn. The crew will reconnect the wires to the house, but only a qualified electrician can repair or replace the mast or cables.

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