A downed tree limb and wires in a Jackson neighborhood. JTV photo.
(February 22, 2023 9:41 PM) Consumers Energy said tonight it continues to monitor and track the major winter storm moving through the state and crews have begun restoration work. Consumers urges customers to be cautious and patient as the number of downed wires and outages increases. Consumers has more than 300 crews mobilized and ready to begin an all-hands-on-deck restoration process once it is safe for all crews to be deployed. More than 160,000 customers are currently impacted. More than 207,000 DTE Energy customers are without power this evening.
As of 9:40 PM, more than 35,000 Jackson County customers are without power.
The Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 AM Thursday. The National Weather Service is forecasting total nighttime ice accumulation of around a 0.4 of an inch possible. Total nighttime sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
The City of Jackson has declared a WEATHER EMERGENCY: The City is responding to various emergencies created by Wednesday night’s winter storm. Authorities urge residents to please stay indoors and not travel.
Road conditions plus downed wires and trees are making driving conditions very dangerous and difficult for emergency crews to reach you if there’s a problem.
Public Works crews are also monitoring blocked streets but cannot take action until conditions improve.
The City asks that you please stay indoors until streets are safe for travel.
All Jackson County schools are closed Thursday.
“Our top priority is the safety of our customers and crews, and that is why we’re continuing to closely track this storm as it moves through the state, said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for the event. “We were prepared for this storm and will restore power as quickly and as safely as possible. As the weather worsens and temperatures drop overnight, we’re grateful for the patience and understanding of our customers.”
Restoration times can vary depending as the storm event continues. Customers can report an outage and check the status of outage by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts. The company says the outage map is currently experience slowness.
Kapala urged people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, keep children and pets away, and report the issue by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy also asks the public to keep a safe distance from crews.
“As this weather worsens it can cause even more damage and more downed wires, and we are urging our customers to be vigilant and stay safe,” said Kapala.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:
· Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they safely can go past workers on roadsides.
· Customers should call 2-1-1 if they are looking for help connecting to resources that offer assistance in your community, including warming centers. 2-1-1 is a free statewide service.
· Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.
· Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.
· In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.
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