Thousands of Metro Detroit homes, businesses without power after strong wind storms

Winds knock down wires, trees

DETROIT – About 100 DTE Metro Detroit homes and businesses are without power Saturday after heavy wind storms whipped the area Friday.

Strong winds knocked out power, took down wires and trees, and left a trail of damage across southeast Michigan.

PHOTOS: Wyandotte house crushed after heavy winds uproot massive tree

Consumers Energy said 5,000 customers were without power as of 5 a.m. Sunday and DTE Energy said 24,000 customers were without power as of 9:30 p.m. 

Safety Tips During a Storm

  • Stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines and anything they are in contact with, including puddles of water and fences. Keep children and pets away too.
  • Be extremely cautious near metal fences, which conduct electricity, following a severe storm. Electric current will be the strongest where a downed power line is touching a metal fence. Even a connecting fence several backyards away can be energized and dangerous.
  • Never cross yellow barrier tape. It may be around downed power lines.
  • Never drive across downed power lines. If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside your car until emergency help arrives.
  • A live power line may spark and whip around as it looks for a ground. A ground is the earth or something touching the earth, like a fence or a tree. A live wire that has found its ground may lie silently, but it is still dangerous. Report a downed power line online, on the DTE Energy Mobile App or call us immediately at 800.477.4747.
  • Cable or telephone lines can be energized if they come in contact with electrical lines.Contact with an energized power line can be fatal.