JACKSON (WKZO AM/FM) — Consumers Energy says its dealing with a moving target, trying to restore power to the tens of thousands of people in Mid-Michigan who remain in the dark, some since Wednesday.
They say with the weather conditions about to deteriorate again overnight, that they could see more customers go dark, and more damage done to the system all over west Michigan
Some outages have begun to appear in the southern counties and more may appear overnight, as Michigan has been lurching from one winter weather advisory and warning to another for the past few weeks.
At last word, there were over 155-thousand customers without power, concentrated in just a few counties in central West Michigan, most of which may not have power back until late Sunday and some who won’t get it back until Monday.
But they also admit that the changing and deteriorating weather may mean those predictions are optimistic.
Warming shelters are opening up in the impacted areas as temperatures are about to plunge and stay below freezing through the weekend. Many homes rely on electricity to operate furnaces.
The Red Cross has announced the opening of warming shelters at five locations in the area impacted by the electrical outages. The shelters are located at Ottawa Hills High School, Union High, North Rockford Middle School, the Walker Fire Department and the Ionia Armory.
The Red Cross says “At the shelters, residents will receive warm and safe lodging, comfort items, toiletries, food, information, and emotional support.”
Crews are chasing down 2400 downed lines, each one of them a potential danger to the public if anyone goes near them. Securing them is their first focus and priority.
100 linemen and support staff from Kentucky have arrived to reinforce the Consumers Energy repair crews in the field.
