35K Still Without Power, Crews Working 'Around The Clock'
DETROIT (WWJ) - DTE Energy crews are making progress in restoring power to more than a quarter of a million homes and businesses that were impacted by Sunday's severe storms.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, about 35,000 customers throughout the metro Detroit area remained without power. That's down from a peak high of about 302,000 on Sunday.
DTE officials say they expect about 90 percent of customers will have their power restored by late Wednesday.
Crews are working around the clock in 16-hour shifts to restore power, with more than 100 crews from Colorado, Pennsylvania and Ohio assisting with restoration efforts.
[TRACK POWER OUTAGES HERE & OUTAGES BY ZIPCODE HERE]
DTE said Sunday's storm is the largest they've experienced this year and one of the largest in the last decade. Gusts of up to 70 mph were tracked in the area, sweeping large branches and in many cases entire trees into power lines.
More than 1,500 downed power lines have been reported. In Detroit, a 14-year-old was critically injured after coming into contact with a downed power line.
DTE officials say citizens should stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines and anything they're in contact with, such as metal fences and cars. Treat every downed power line as if it were energized.
Anyone can report a power outage or a downed power line by calling DTE Energy at 800-477-4747.
MORE: Wind Damages Historic Detroit Church
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest during Traffic and Weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. Check the CBS Detroit weather page for the extended forecast and up-to-the-minute information.
