ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Crews for two of Michigan’s largest utilities were working to restore power Wednesday to more than 300,000 homes and businesses left in the dark amid hot, muggy conditions after severe storms toppled trees and limbs onto power lines.
More than 320,000 Michigan customers were without power as of late Wednesday morning, most in the central and southeastern parts of the state, according to PowerOutage.us. DTE Energy reported more than 200,000 outages and Consumers Energy more than 108,000.
In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, resident Michael Zaccardelli said he heard about the approaching bad weather Tuesday evening and decided to move his car off the street. Just 15 minutes later, a tree in his front yard fell onto the exact spot where his car had been parked.
“It would’ve been a complete loss. Everyone’s safe and just really thankful no one got hurt,” Zaccardelli told WXYZ-TV.
While Consumers Energy crew members were working to restore power, the utility said it would distribute water and ice to residents in the cities of Midland and Rockford. The company said about 360 members of utility crews were continuing an “around-the-clock effort to restore power.”
“We appreciate people’s patience as Tuesday’s storms caused devastation on one of this summer’s hottest days. Our focus now is to get the lights back on while making sure we’re providing comfort and relief to our friends and neighbors,” Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s restoration officers, said in a statement.
Severe storms also toppled trees in the Chicago area, damaging homes and automobiles after two days of heat that set a record high of 99 degrees (37. 2 Celsius) Tuesday at O’Hare International Airport. That eclipsed the record of 97 degrees (36.1 Celsius) for the date previously set in 1948, 1953 and 1973, said Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago.
The overnight storms also dropped hail the size of tennis balls in parts of McHenry County, in Chicago’s far northwest suburbs, and broke the heat wave in northern Illinois, Borchardt said. A cold front moving through the area Wednesday will reinforce that cooler trend by ushering in lower temperatures and humidity.
“The heat wave is over and we’re looking at cooler temperatures and humidity levels today. Yesterday was the worst part of it,” Borchardt said.
Heat advisories were in effect Wednesday for the St. Louis metropolitan area, parts of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region, with the weather service predicting that “many daily high temperature records may be broken.”
Severe thunderstorms were expected Wednesday across the Ohio Valley, the northern mid-Atlantic coast and parts of both North Dakota and South Dakota.
In the central Pacific Ocean, a trio of tropical storms — Hone, Gilma and Hector — were forecasted to weaken, with the remnants of Gilma and then Hector expected to bring much-needed rain to Hawaii through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. No tropical storms were on the horizon in the Atlantic on Wednesday.
In recent years, Michigan has experienced an increase in severe weather events, including powerful storms that have caused significant damage to homes and businesses across the state. From heavy rainfall and flooding to high winds and hail, these storms have left a trail of destruction in their wake, leaving many residents and business owners struggling to recover.
In response to this growing problem, restoration efforts are now underway for over 300,000 Michigan homes and businesses that have been affected by these storms. These efforts are being led by a combination of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies, all working together to help those affected by the storms rebuild and recover.
One of the key challenges facing those involved in the restoration efforts is the sheer scale of the damage caused by these storms. With over 300,000 properties affected, there is a huge amount of work to be done to repair and restore these homes and businesses. This includes everything from repairing roofs and windows damaged by high winds to removing mold and water damage caused by flooding.
To help coordinate these efforts, the state government has set up a task force dedicated to overseeing the restoration process. This task force is working closely with local authorities, emergency services, and other organizations to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that those in need receive the help they require.
In addition to government-led efforts, a number of non-profit organizations are also playing a key role in the restoration process. These organizations are providing much-needed support to those affected by the storms, including financial assistance, temporary housing, and access to essential services such as clean water and electricity.
Private companies are also stepping up to help with the restoration efforts, offering their expertise and resources to help repair and rebuild damaged properties. From construction companies to restoration specialists, these businesses are working tirelessly to ensure that homes and businesses are restored to their former glory as quickly as possible.
Overall, the restoration efforts underway for over 300,000 Michigan homes and businesses affected by storms are a testament to the resilience and determination of the people of Michigan. By working together and supporting one another, we can overcome the challenges posed by these severe weather events and rebuild our communities stronger than ever before.
