WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Last night’s storms and severe wind gusts resulted in widespread outages across I&M’s service area, with the majority of affected customers in the South Bend and Elkhart areas.
- Crews worked through the night to restore power and as of 8:30 a.m. approximately 43,800 customers are without power, down from a peak of about 62,000.
- All of I&M’s internal resources are currently working the storm, in addition to 500 workers from surrounding utilities. 750 additional assistance workers have been requested to aid restoration efforts.
- Do not attempt to clear any hazards or debris touching electrical equipment and stay away from downed power lines and anything they may be touching. Report hazards to I&M at 1-800-311-4634 or to local police.
SITUATION
As of 8:30 a.m., approximately 43,800 I&M customers are without power, down from a peak of about 62,000.
Outages are widespread, and damage assessment is still underway. Understanding the extent of the damage is necessary to establish Estimated Times of Restoration (ETRs).
I&M is utilizing drone technology to assist with the damage assessment and is also calling on additional resources from its sister companies.
I&M reminds everyone to stay away from any downed power lines and to look up if they are outside, as the ground is wet and a tree or limb could fall at any moment.
BY THE NUMBERS:
OUTAGES
Total Customers: 43,800
Indiana:41,010
Southwest Michigan: 2,790
RESTORATION UPDATES:
As damage assessments are completed, our crews will be better able to determine when customers can expect to have power restored.
An ETR of 11 PM today has been established for the following areas: Fort Wayne, Benton Harbor, Buchanan.
When our crews can establish ETRs for additional areas, we will share that information with our customers.
The best way to stay updated on restoration times is through the I&M app and text/email alerts. The app shows outage details for your home and business, and text or email alerts will send you estimated restoration times. Customers can download and enroll in alerts here.
Customers can also check outage status anytime at IndianaMichiganPower.com/OutageMap.
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.