WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- I&M crews are continuing to work to safely restore power and as of 1:00 p.m. approximately 34,975 customers are without power, down from a peak of about 62,000.
- Our restoration experts expect to have the majority of customers in Fort Wayne and Muncie restored by 11:00 p.m. today.
- Damage assessment continues in other parts of our service area to determine restoration times for other communities. I&M is utilizing drones and helicopters, allowing us to more quickly assess damage in areas that are difficult for our crews to safely access by ground.
- For the fastest updates on restoration times customers should use the I&M app and sign up for text/email alerts, available here.
SITUATION
As of 1:00 p.m., approximately 34,975 I&M customers are without power, down from 43,800 at 8:30 a.m. this morning and a significant decrease from the event peak of about 62,000.
All of I&M’s internal resources are currently working the storm, in addition to 1,250 workers from surrounding utilities.
Our teams’ damage assessment, which helps establish Estimated Times of Restoration (ETRs), is still in progress. At this point assessment shows that last night’s storms resulted in 58 broken or damaged poles and 130 downed wires across I&M’s service area. The majority of the damage occurred in and around South Bend and Elkhart.
The damage was due to the high winds that reached as high as 75 miles per hour. I&M reminds everyone to stay away from any downed power lines and to look up if they are outside, as falling tree limbs are a common hazard after this type of weather event.
BY THE NUMBERS:
OUTAGES
Total Customers: 34,975
Indiana: 33,146
- Elkhart: 23,179
- Fort Wayne: 1,189
- Marion: 1,251
- Muncie: 2,448
- South Bend: 5,118
Southwest Michigan: 1,829
- Benton Harbor: 45
- Buchanan: 144
- Three Rivers: 1,641
RESTORATION UPDATES:
An ETR of 11:00 p.m. today has been established for the majority of customers in Fort Wayne and Muncie. Damage assessment with helicopters and drone technology continues in other parts of our service area to determine restoration times for those communities.
The best way to stay updated on restoration times is through the I&M app and text/email alerts. As soon as we update restoration times in our system, you’ll receive the latest information. Customers can download and enroll in alerts here.
Customers can also check outage status anytime at IndianaMichiganPower.com/OutageMap.
CAN YOU RECEIVE POWER?
Now’s the time to check whether your home can safely receive power. If your service entrance (the part you own) is damaged, I&M can’t reconnect power until a licensed electrician makes repairs. You can learn more about homeowner and I&M responsibilities here.
If crews see damage that prevents I&M from restoring power to specific homes or businesses, we will call customers directly or leave a door hanger.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Watch out for downed wires. Stay away from downed power lines and anything it may be touching or is hidden by debris – like a fence or a tree. Report any hazard to I&M at 1-800-311-4634 or to local police.
- Be Alert. Trees could fall or drop limbs at any moment. Be alert and look around and up.
- Give crews space. If you see an I&M crew, please give them enough space to work and do not try to ask them questions. They are working with and near dangerous equipment.
- Some traffic lights are out. If a stoplight isn’t working, treat it as a stop sign. Take it slow on the road.
- Use generators safely. Connect all appliances directly to the generator. Don’t connect the generator's electrical output to any home or building electrical circuits. Don’t use gas-powered generators in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, like inside a garage or a home.
- For more safety tips, visit IndianaMichiganPower.com/Weather.