Severe storms brought trees and power lines down — causing more than 60,000 Indiana Michigan Power customers to lose electricity.
One tree knocked down blocked traffic on Cleveland Road near the railroad tracks.
Multiple trees came down along Jefferson Road in Mishawaka and scattered throughout St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties.
The force of the winds in the brief storm was so strong, they even moved some street lights around.
With the storm front now passed, you can expect colder temperatures for today and Tuesday. More storm chances are expected on Wednesday.
Latest outage information from Indiana Michigan Power:
North Central Indiana 33,826 TBD
South Bend Area 22,807
Elkhart Area 11,177
Southwest Michigan 26,670 TBD
Buchanan Area 11,543
Benton Harbor Area 2,915
Three Rivers Area 12,272
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Widespread severe weather moved quickly across I&M’s service area, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and frequent lightning. There are reports of downed trees, downed power lines, broken power poles all likely from wind gusts measuring between 60-78 mph across the area.
• As of 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, I&M has more than 60,000 customers without power – a majority of those are in hard-hit areas of South Bend and Elkhart in Indiana and Buchanan and Three Rivers in Michigan.
• I&M crews are responding to outages and will restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
• Mutual assistance crews have answered the call for help and will join I&M crews to restore power.
• Safety remains a significant concern. Please treat any downed lines as energized. Call 911 to report any hazards or call I&M immediately at 1-800-311-4634.
WEATHER RESTORATION EFFORTS:
• A strong contingent of 900 I&M line workers, damage assessors, tree trimming crews, contractors and various support staff are safely working to restore power.
• More than 1,100 mutual assistance personnel have answered the call for help – some of which will arrive tonight, and remaining crews will arrive Monday. Help is on the way from our AEP sister company Appalachian Power Company, while other crews will arrive from surrounding areas in Indiana and Michigan and as far away as Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Virginia and Alabama.
• Damage assessment and response is underway across the area. Crews will work through the overnight hours to restore power where possible.
SAFETY MESSAGES:
• Plan Ahead: Before severe weather hits know your safe area in your home – such as a basement or a storm shelter. Decide what to do in the event of an extended power outage. Check on senior citizens, those with small children and those who have medical conditions to ensure they have a plan.
• Prepare Your Property: High winds can toss and topple lawn furniture, umbrellas and even trampolines across yards – possibly into power lines. Secure any loose objects in your yard. Remember, if the power goes out, unplug electronics and appliances to protect them when power is restored.
• Stay Away from Downed Lines: Remember, all downed lines should be considered deadly. The power line and anything it could touch, including fences or in standing water, can carry electric currents which could cause serious or even fatal injuries. If you see a fallen wire, keep yourself and others, including pets away and call 911 or Indiana Michigan Power immediately at 1-800-311-4634.
• Take it slow on the road. For those driving, take it slow and be on the lookout for utility personnel, emergency personnel and tree removal crews working in the area.
• For more safety tips visit IndianaMichiganPower.com/safety/storms/.
STAY CONNECTED:
I&M is committed to keeping our customers informed. Customers can stay up to date with the latest information specific to their account with the following:
• Monitor the status of your outage at IndianaMichiganPower.com/App.
• Sign up for text and email alerts on the app or at IndianaMichiganPower.com/Alerts.
• View outages and estimates at IndianaMichiganPower.com/OutageMap.
