Consumers Energy says it’s pre-staging nearly 200 crews across Michigan in preparation for a second round of winter weather expected to impact the state Saturday and Sunday, following storms that knocked out power to more than 60,000 customers earlier in the week.
Crews worked through the Thanksgiving holiday to restore service after high winds hit the state Wednesday. The utility has since restored power to all affected customers and is now preparing for significant snowfall forecast for the remainder of the holiday weekend.
“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.”
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 difficult travel conditions.
The utility is urging people to pay attention to travel advisories and winter weather watches and warnings. Consumers Energy also asked the public to keep a safe distance from crews working in the field to restore power.
The company recommends residents prepare by:
Charging electronic devicesHaving emergency batteries or charging stations availableAssembling an emergency kit with flashlights, extra batteries, water, canned food, and blanketsEnsure they have enough medication, baby supplies, and pet food if needed
Consumers Energy advises unplugging sensitive electronics like TVs, computers, and printers and turning off power strips. The utility also recommends having a food safety plan in case of outages, including knowing how long food can remain safe without power.
Customers can report outages and sign up for restoration updates at ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter or through the Consumers Energy mobile app.