As Michigan braces for severe weekend snowfall, Consumers Energy preps 200 crews for potential outages, urging residents to prepare emergency kits and stay safe.
MICHIGAN, USA — Consumers Energy is preparing for another round of wintry weather this weekend after crews restored power to more than 60,000 customers affected by storms that hit Michigan on Wednesday and Thursday.
The utility company is pre-staging nearly 200 crews statewide ahead of significant snowfall expected Saturday and Sunday, according to a Friday announcement.
“We want our customers to know that we continue to stand ready throughout the weekend to restore power as safely and quickly as possible,” said Norm Kapala, Consumers Energy’s vice president of grid operations. “Our line workers and other field crews are ready to be deployed into impacted communities, and we’re gathering trucks and essential materials to assist with any restoration efforts.”
High winds began impacting the state Wednesday morning, leaving thousands without power over the Thanksgiving holiday. Crews worked through the holiday to restore service.
Over the weekend, snow is expected to accumulate slowly statewide, with higher amounts forecast for the West Michigan lakeshore. Blowing and drifting snow could reduce visibility and create hazardous travel conditions.
The utility company urged residents to maintain a safe distance from crews working in the field and to pay attention to travel advisories and winter weather warnings. Travel is not advised in many areas.
Consumers Energy reminded the public to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to report them by calling 911 and the utility at 800-477-5050. The company also warned against using generators in enclosed spaces due to carbon monoxide risks.
Customers can report outages and sign up for restoration updates at ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter or through the Consumers Energy mobile app.
Consumers tips for severe weather preparation:
- Charge all electronic devices. It’s advised to have an emergency battery or charging station available for use during an outage.
- Have an emergency kit that includes flashlights and extra batteries, water, canned food and blankets. Be prepared with enough medication, baby supplies and pet food if applicable. A battery-operated radio is also a good idea.
- Unplug sensitive electronics like TVs, computers and printers. Turn power strips off.
- Have a food safety plan in case of an outage. If the power goes out while cooking or storing holiday meals, know in advance how long food can remain safe and what steps to take. Visit FoodSafety.gov’s Power Outage Guide for tips and charts on what to keep and what to discard.
Consumers safety tips for severe weather:
- Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
- Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.
- Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.
- In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.