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UPDATE: I&M Working To Get Power On For Thousands Following Storms

I&M via Twitter

Here is the latest from I&M on power outages due to early morning storms: 

I&M Storm Update: 4 p.m. 05-23-2019
Indiana Michigan Power has restored service to 14,000 customers affected by this morning’s thunderstorms. Crews are working to restore power to about 2,000 remaining customers by 11 p.m.

Wind gusts of up to 64 mph were reported this morning, causing trees and branches to topple onto lines and poles. Thirteen broken poles were discovered as crews worked diligently to restore power. More than 250 employees and contractors have been working in the field to restore service, backed by dozens of support personnel.

All Michigan customers affected by the sudden and severe storms this morning have been restored.

In Indiana, the approximate number of remaining outages as of 4 p.m. were:

Fort Wayne area: 850

South Bend/Elkhart area: 850

Marion area: 350

I&M Storm Update: 12:30 p.m. 05-23-2019
 

Indiana Michigan Power crews have restored 75 percent of the Indiana customers who lost service as a result of this morning’s powerful thunderstorms and expects to have power back to all Hoosier customers by 11 p.m.

Power will continue to be restored throughout the day, with the vast majority of Hoosier customers restored by 6 p.m. Crews will continue working until the remaining customers are restored.

The approximate number of outages in Indiana areas as of 12:30 p.m. were:

Fort Wayne area: 1,200

South Bend/Elkhart area: 1,300

Marion area: 875

I&M crews began responding to the outages just after they began and have restored about 10,000 customers in the past seven hours.

In Michigan, about 2,600 customers remain without service, nearly all of them affected by a single outage just north of the state line in and around White Pigeon. An estimated time of restoration has not yet been established.

 

Meantime, the Associated Press reports that utilities serving northern Indiana say about 60,000 customers lost power as storms packing winds approaching 70 mph buffeted the region.

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. says approximately 35,000 customers lost service during the storms early Thursday, and fewer than 20,000 remained without power that afternoon.

Indiana and Michigan Power Co. says about 13,000 Indiana customers lost power, and Kosciusko REMC says more than 9,500 of its members lost power. Other REMCs reported more than 2,000 members lost service.

The National Weather Service says a trained spotter measured a 68 mph gust in Allen County.

I&M Storm Update: 10 a.m. 05-23-2019
Sudden, powerful thunderstorms with high winds and lightning rolled across Indiana Michigan Power’s service territory Thursday morning, causing about 16,000 customers to lose service in Indiana and in Michigan.

I&M crews began responding to the outages just after they began and as of 10 a.m. have restored more than 7,000 customers, or 40 percent of those affected. A full contingent of I&M crews is in the field assessing damage and restoring power and are being joined by contractors to safely restore all customers.

I&M encourages all of our customers to be aware of possible storm damage in their area. Be aware of the possibility of downed power lines and stay away from them. Also be cautious of slick roads and the possibility of traffic lights not functioning. Please keep in mind that given the heavy rains in recent days, some trees may be saturated and could drop limbs or fall hours after the storm ended.

The approximate number of outages in Indiana areas as of 10 a.m. were:

Fort Wayne area: 3,100

South Bend/Elkhart area: 2,700

Muncie/Marion area: 1,000

In southwest Michigan, about 2,600 customers were without power, most of them as the result of a single outage.

Firm estimated times of restoration will be established after all of the damage is assessed. I&M encourages customers to use the Indiana Michigan Power mobile application, available on Apple and Android devices, to monitor the status of any outage affecting your home or business. You can sign up for mobile alerts on the app or at www.IndianaMichiganPower/alerts

Customers can also see the location and status of outages using our outage map at www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/outagemap