High Winds Leave Thousands In Metro Detroit Without Power
DETROIT (WWJ) -- DTE Energy crews are working Saturday to restore power to thousands of homes and businesses affected by a wind storm.
More than 35,000 homes and businesses in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw and Livingston Counties are without electricity.
DTE Energy spokesman Guy Cerullo says his crews start where the most damage has been done.
"When we start work we try to get the most customers back at any given time -- the largest circuits, the number of people who are out," Cerullo said.
The outages are due to the severe winds that struck the area as warmer temperatures clashed with the cold front that has been hanging out over the area for some time.
The National Weather Service says the top wind gust in southeast Michigan Friday night was 58 miles per hour in Ypsilanti. A 55 miles per hour gust was reported at Detroit Metro Airport. Gusts of 54 miles per hour were reported in Pontiac and Ann Arbor.
Cerullosaid that at one point more than 110,000 customers were without power.
"We expect to be working throughout the weekend to restore those customers," Cerullo said.
Some power may not be restored until Monday.
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