Yesterday’s storm hit Michigan hard and left its mark.  According to Consumers Energy, 240,000 Michiganders lost power because of it. “Our crews have been able to work safely and efficiently all night, restoring power to over 90,000 homes and businesses since Tuesday. With better weather in the forecast, we expect to continue making progress today,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “

You can get updates at any time by going to the Consumers Energy Outage Center. As in the illustration above, it will give you the number of outages and provide updates on restorations. You can also sign up for notifications via your smart phone.

Consumers Energy is responsible for the line up to the point it reaches your house. If the mast or any part connected to it is damaged, you will need an electrician to make the repair.

When a power line is down, the first concern is your safety and those around you. Consumers Energy says “stay at least 25 feet away from a downed wire.” They add “steer clear of water, trees, debris and fences” nearby and contact them as soon as possible (800-477-5050). Carl Evanson, A Plus Electric’s master electrician, adds another note of caution “a downed wire can electrify areas much farther away than you’d guess as electricity disburses in surprising ways. The results can be tragic.”