Sustained 60 mph wind gusts swept across the lakeshore region from Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon Counties northward to the Traverse City area. Great Lakes Energy is reporting 29,000 customers are in the dark. Consumers Energy tells us 69,000 of its customers are without power.
“Trees are down. Wires are down. There is a lot of damage out there.”
Katie Carey is with Consumers Energy. She tells us the high winds Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning knocked down nearly 150 power lines. Consumers has 200 crews positioned for power restoration. They’re clearing downed wires while forestry teams are clearing toppled trees. Once winds dissipate below 35 miles per hour, crews will begin ascending poles restoring power.
“If listeners do come across a downed wire, please stay 12 feet away from that wire. Call 9-1-1, call Consumers Energy to report it and we will get a crew out to clear that.”
Consumers says it will update customers on estimate times of restoration.