200K Without Power As Storm Takes Toll On Power Lines In Metro Detroit Area
DETROIT (WWJ) - Roughly 200,000 people in metro Detroiter are without power as severe storms and high winds hit the area Sunday.
Randi Berris of DTE says the numbers are expected to increase tonight, and has some advice for homeowners who may lose power.
"If there is a power outage don't open refrigerators and freezers more often than absolutely necessary, " said Barris. "A closed refrigerator can stay cold 12 hours and kept closed a well filled freezer can preserve food for two days."
Crews will be working around the clock to restore power, but continuing high winds could slow the efforts:
"DTE asks all of our customers and anybody out there - to stay at least 20 feet away from downed power-lines and anything they might come in contact with especially metal fences. Treat every downed power-line as if it were energized."
The number of power outages is expected to increase throughout the night and morning hours as high winds continue.
In Canton, a wind gust of 70 miles per hour was reported just after 5:30 Sunday evening. A 64 miles per hour gust was reported in Ida, in Monroe County and a 60 miles per hour wind gust was reported in Highland Township.
Along with power outages, trained spotters for the National Weather Service reported a tree down on a car near 24 Mile Road and Dequindre in Shelby Township and mobile home skirting was pushed in by winds in Chesterfield Township.
Near Holly, a weather service employee reported a gazebo that was bolted to a deck was ripped off and six trees were down near Fish Lake and Academy Street.
Trees were down in a number of areas including Milford, Highland Township and near Fowlerville in Livingston County.
TRACK POWER OUTAGES HERE and OUTAGES BY ZIPCODE -HERE.
Check the CBS Detroit weather page for the extended forecast and up-to-the-minute information.
