KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — As crews continue working around the clock to restore public safety and electric service to customers, Consumers Energy is reminding everyone to focus on staying safe following damaging storms.
More than 2,000 wires came down during Monday’s damaging storms that knocked down trees, limbs, and power lines across 37 counties in the Lower Peninsula.
One of most common safety tips is being on the lookout for downed wires and to sate at least 25 feet away from the lines. This includes staying away from anything a downed power line is touching, such as water, vehicles, fences, and anything metal.
Consumers Energy also wants motorists to be alert to crews working along roads by slowing down, stopping, and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so they can safely go past workers on roadsides.
They warn also to never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes.
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.
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.
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