More than 33,000 Indiana Michigan Power customers remained without electricity Friday evening, July 3, after severe storms moved through Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, damaging power equipment and leaving roads blocked by fallen trees.
I&M reported about 33,700 outages as of 8 p.m. Friday. Roughly 30,000 of those customers were in Michigan, with another 3,700 outages reported in Indiana. The Benton Harbor area was among the hardest-hit locations.
The utility said strong winds brought down trees, limbs and electrical equipment, causing widespread damage across its service territory. In some areas, secondary roads remained impassable because of debris, making it more difficult for crews to assess damage and begin repairs.
I&M said restoration crews were already working in the field and would continue around the clock. However, the company said it could not immediately provide estimated restoration times because of the extent of the damage and the possibility of another round of severe weather overnight.
The utility has requested help from outside crews, but said widespread storm damage across the region could limit the availability of assistance from neighboring power companies. I&M said crews may need to come from states farther away.
The outages come during extreme heat and the Fourth of July holiday weekend. I&M encouraged customers to stay hydrated and check on neighbors, relatives and others who may be especially vulnerable to high temperatures, including senior citizens and people with health conditions. The company said it is also contacting customers known to rely on medical equipment who are affected by the outages.
I&M reminded the public to treat all downed power lines as energized and dangerous. People are urged to stay away from fallen wires, as well as anything they may be touching, including fences, debris and standing water. Downed lines should be reported to local police or I&M at 1-800-311-4634.
Drivers are also being asked to slow down and watch for utility crews, emergency responders and tree removal teams working in affected areas. Residents without air conditioning are encouraged to check with local city or county officials about cooling center availability.
(photo supplied/Indiana Michigan Power)
