Thousands Without Power In Southeast Michigan
SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - While working to restore power to those still in the dark following Saturday's storms, DTE Energy lost thousands of additional customers.
- Trees down on Detroit's east side (WWJ Photo/Vickie Thomas)
Speaking to WWJ Newsradio 950 late Tuesday night, DTE Energy spokesman Len Singer did not give a reason for Tuesday night's outage. As of 10 p.m., more than 20,000 homes and businesses were without power across the region.
About 2,000 of those outages were still left over from Saturday night, mostly in western Wayne County.
"Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Westland area, but we also have customers out as far away as St. Clair County and Sanilac County," Singer said.
More than 200 utility workers from across Michigan and other states are working to restore service. Singer said the total number of outages should be expected to change as crews work throughout the night.
Early Tuesday evening, areas blacked out included Grosse Pointe Park south of Jefferson in the Alter Road, where WWJ spoke with resident Jessie Howard.
"My food in this refrigerator and everything is spoiling, you know, because my refrigerator is out. I have to use a cooler ... and I have to keep buying ice and everything else," Howard said.
On Detroit's east side, Marilyn Peoples has been roughing it in the dark for the last few days since what seemed like a "mini tornado" blew through her neighborhood.
"It was hailing. The wind was extremely high, and also you could see the goldenish, orangish sky ... It was very scary," Peoples told WWJ Newsradio 950's Vickie Thomas.
"It's been very, very frustrating, miserable, hot. The only good part is that my son and daughter-in-law made it to Detroit from Atlanta," she said.
On Cadillac between Kercheval and East Vernor there are numerous trees down. "On this block alone we had three trees down that blocked the whole street. We could not get on or off the block," said resident Dana Robinson, Jr..
"I brought my pickup truck down, wrapped the chain around them and pulled them out of the street enough that we can get on and off the block," he said.
- More storm damage photos here -
Numerous traffic signals were out Tuesday night. Stay tuned to WWJ for the latest during Traffic and Weather on the 8s.
To report an outage or a down power line call 1-800-477-4747.
