Consumers Energy Prepares for Thunderstorms to Strike Michigan on Sunday

Jackson, Mich. Saturday, July 13, 2024

Consumers Energy is preparing company crews and contract crews from Michigan and 13 states to respond to thunderstorms that could start arriving early Sunday and lead to power outages.

“We are getting our crews ready – and we want the public to be ready – for storms that could bring high wind gusts,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “Even as we’ve just finished responding to flooding and other severe weather this week, it’s important to know we are not letting our guard down. We will be sure we’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings this weekend.”

Sunday’s weather looks to hit the Lower Peninsula in two waves, around daybreak and then later at night. Consumers Energy’s Storm Restoration Team is continuing to monitor the forecast today.

Crews from as far away as Connecticut, Georgia and Colorado are joining company and Michigan contractors to be ready for a fast response. Trucks and essential materials will be prepared and staged to support restoration efforts. Mobile storm units that are stocked with supplies will be moved into place as the storm’s path and impact become clearer, helping to speed up the restoration process.

Laird encouraged all Michiganders to prepare. Some tips for severe weather include:

• Charge all electronic devices. It’s advised to have an emergency battery or charging station available for use during an outage.
• Have an emergency kit that includes flashlights and extra batteries, water, nonperishable food and blankets. Be prepared with enough medication, baby supplies and pet food if applicable. A battery-operated radio is also a good idea.
• Unplug sensitive electronics like TVs, computers and printers. Turn power strips off.

“This year has been exceptional, with major storms pounding our state just about every month. I’m grateful for the perseverance of our lineworkers who will be ready for our around-the-clock response and for the patience of our friends and neighbors,” Laird said. “We all could use a break from this weather, but all we can do is answer the call until the skies clear and all of our nearly 2 million customers have power.”

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone.
• Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.
• Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past.
• 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.

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

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Media Contact: Brian Wheeler, 517-740-1545 or brian.wheeler@cmsenergy.com