DETROIT – As strong winds swept through southeast Michigan this week thousands of homes and businesses on DTE Energy's grid lost power.
The utility company said 66,000 of its customers lost power Wednesday and Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday the company had crews working to restore power to the remaining 9,500 customers who are without.
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Winds of 45 to 55 mph moved through the region on Wednesday and Thursday, knocking out power lines.
The remaining outages are scattered across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. DTE Energy said power should be restore to everyone sometime on Friday. Customers can report a downed wire or outage to DTE by calling 800-477-4747.
Wind continues to knock out power in SE Michigan
This is the second time in three months high winds have knocked out power to thousands of DTE Energy customers in southeast Michigan. But this week's gusts were not nearly as strong as the wind which moved across the state in March. On March 8, wind speeds reach nearly 70 mph. Tree were toppled, claiming hundreds of power lines.
At its peak, DTE Energy reported more than 800,000 of its 2.1 million customers in southeast Michigan were without power. The utility company said it was the "largest weather event in DTE history." Some people were without power for more than a week.
The west side of the state was getting hit, too, as Consumers Energy reported 175,000 outages by that time.
LONG READ: The Historic Michigan Power Outage of March 2017
What about burying the power lines?
Burying power lines seems like it would be the best solution to helping everyone avoid these wind-caused power outages. However, DTE said in April that's not a "foolproof solution." Here's part of the company's statement on burying power lines:
While burying power lines may seem like a logical solution, the reality is putting lines underground (or “undergrounding” as they say in the business) isn’t the foolproof solution customers believe it to be. In addition, the process is very expensive, and in some cases, quite difficult.
As always, DTE offers these storm tips:
- Never drive across a downed power line. If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside until help arrives.
- Don’t open refrigerators or freezers more often than absolutely necessary. A closed refrigerator will stay cold for 12 hours. Kept closed, a well-filled freezer will preserve food for two days.
- Turn off or unplug all appliances to prevent an electrical overload when power is restored. Leave on one light switch to indicate when power is restored.
- Always operate generators outdoors to avoid dangerous buildup of toxic fumes.
- If a customer is elderly or has a medical condition that would be adversely impacted by a power outage, they should try to make alternative accommodations with family or friends.
- During low-voltage conditions – when lights are dim and television pictures are smaller – shut off motor-driven appliances such as refrigerators to prevent overheating and possible damage. Sensitive electronic devices also should be unplugged.
- Stay out of flooded or damp basements or other areas if water is in contact with outlets or any electrically-operated appliance. The water or moisture may serve as a conductor of electricity. This can cause serious or even fatal injury.
- Assemble an emergency kit. It should include a battery-powered radio, a flashlight and candles, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, bottled water and non-perishable food.
- Customers who depend on electrically powered medical equipment should ask their physician about an emergency battery back-up system. If a customer is elderly or has a medical condition that would be adversely impacted by a power outage, they should develop an emergency plan that allows for alternative accommodations with family or friends.
- Keep a corded or cell phone on hand because a cordless telephone needs electricity to operate. Also, customers should learn how to manually open automated garage doors.
- Customers who depend on a well for drinking water need to plan ahead on how they will obtain water. Store containers of water for cooking and washing.
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