working-on-power-lines

Storm Delivers Knock Out Punch to Nearly 6,000 in Early Going

working-on-power-lines

Well, it didn’t take long for some of the dire predictions regarding today’s projected high winds to become reality. Utility crews that were simply on stand-by before are now being pressed into action all across Michigan’s Great Southwest and into Northwest Indiana.

High winds are sweeping through I&M’s service territory today as forecast, with wind gusts up to 64 mph reported. As of noon, about 5,900 customers reported being without service.

More than 400 I&M employees and contractor line crews and support staff began working early this morning and have already restored power to some of the customers who lost service.

I&M strongly encourages the public to be aware of the dangers posed by the strong winds. Stay away from any downed lines, and report them to I&M at 800-311-4634 in Indiana and 800-311-6424 in Michigan. Watch out for flying debris and be particularly cautious when driving. Downed trees and branches could block roads; strong winds can make it difficult for motorists, particular truck drivers, to stay in their lanes.

ADVERTISEMENT
Your content continues below

Strong winds are forecast to continue throughout the day, with higher wind gusts expected early this afternoon. I&M continues to monitor the weather and respond to new outages.

I&M is establishing estimated times of restoration for individual outages as damage is assessed.

If outage numbers increase significantly, estimated times for larger areas such as counties or regions may be established later today.

Customers who have signed up for I&M mobile alerts will be notified when an estimated time of restoration is established for their outage. Customers can also check the latest restoration information for their account via thew I&M website by clicking the link below:

http://IndianaMichiganPower.com/Outages

You can also access the I&M mobile app by searching for Indiana Michigan Power in the App Store or Google Play to download it today.

As of noon, the approximate number of customers who lost service during the windstorm were:

  • Southwest Michigan: 1,500
  • Northeast Indiana, including Fort Wayne:1,200
  • North-central Indiana, including South Bend and Elkhart: 150
  • East-central Indiana, including Muncie and Marion: 3,100

Utility crews ask that you please be aware that I&M’s ability to use aerial work platforms – often referred to as bucket trucks or cherry pickers – to reach wires, pole tops and transformers can be impeded by high winds, possibly affecting the timeliness of restoration.

Any customer who loses power today should notify I&M by calling the phone number listed above; on the mobile app; or on their Web site.