GRAND RAPIDS (WKZO AM/FM) — Consumers Energy officials say they should have everyone’s power restored by midday Monday, just in time before the next possible ice storm.
— POWER OUTAGE UPDATE —
Some customers have been without power since last week Wednesday after two rounds of ice brought down hundreds of tree branches and powerlines.
At the peak of the outage, there were around 231,000 customers in the dark statewide, with a little over a thousand remaining on Monday.
Crews were working 12 hour days to make the needed repairs.
— WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY —
A winter weather advisory goes into effect at midnight Tuesday and runs until 1 p.m. Wednesday for a majority of the west Michigan counties.
Kalamazoo could see 2 to 4 inches of snow, heavy ice accumulations, and 40 mph winds causing white out conditions at times.
— STATE OF EMERGENCY —
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of Emergency in the city of Grand Rapids, an official designation that makes the community eligible for state assistance and funding.
That has meant help from state crews to remove fallen trees, and could also mean reimbursement for city costs from clean-ups, the operation of shelters and police overtime.
— SNOW DAYS RAISING CONCERNS —
School officials will have some tough decisions coming up as our mild El Nino Winter has turned nasty, with more snow storms forecast for the week.
School Districts may have to extend their school year later into June to make up for snow days.
They have received a letter from the Interim State School Superintendent stating that the Governor’s decision to close the State during the Polar Vortex did not include the schools and they will count as snow days.
Some rural districts have already accumulated 14 to 15 snow days.
School Districts are allowed to cancel classes 6 days a year, with an option to request a special waiver for 3 more.
The Kalamazoo School District is already at 9 days. Spokesman Alex Lee says they plan to ask for the waiver, but are waiting to see what the final total will be first, and if the State Board of Education or the Legislature will grant any relief.
(copy written by John McNeill)
