Consumers Energy crews continue to tackle restoration work after three waves of severe weather swept through Michigan over the weekend, including an ice storm in the northern portion of the state and severe thunderstorms in the south, with wind gusts up to 90 mph in some locations. More than 700 crews are spread between the two regions working 24 hours a day until every customer is restored.

“The severity of the weather we saw over the weekend—from ice-coated branches entangling lines up north to high winds uprooting trees in the south—has been a test not only for our lineworkers, but our customers as well,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for the event. “While we know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, we also know that job number one is getting the lights back on as quickly and as safely as possible. Our customers can count on us to work 24/7 until that happens.”

Consumers Energy began preparing for the series of storms early last week, moving crews and equipment into place in northern Michigan Friday afternoon and Saturday morning ahead of the ice storm, allowing for significant progress to be made on those restorations before the third storm wave passed through the lower portion of the state. We are monitoring and preparing for another round of storms anticipated on Wednesday with potential for additional freezing rain and hazardous wind gusts.

In coordination with the Otsego Fire Department and E-Free Church Gaylord Campus, free water will be available to residents at the below addresses:

• Otsego Fire Department 10499 Old US Hwy 27 S, Gaylord, MI 49735
• E-Free Church Gaylord Campus 1649 M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735

The majority of Michigan's restoration is on track to be complete Tuesday, and the hardest hit areas Wednesday.