WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- We know many customers have spent part of their holiday weekend without power, in extreme heat. We understand how frustrating that is and restoring service as quickly and safely as possible remains our top priority.
- Approximately 28,550 customers are currently without power: about 26,650 in Michigan and 1,900 in Indiana, mostly in the South Bend and Elkhart area.
- Restoration personnel from across I&M and the AEP system are on their way to assist local crews, who have been working around the clock since the storms began. This includes I&M employees from Indiana shifting north to assist with restoring Michigan customers as well as crews from AEP companies in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
- I&M expects to have 25-30% of our remaining customers restored today with most customers restored by midnight tomorrow night. More specific details will be available in upcoming updates.
SITUATION
Between Friday and early Saturday, strong storms with severe winds blew through Southwest Michigan and North Central Indiana. At 5:00 p.m. on Friday, we had a peak outage of approximately 35,200 customers. A second round of storms moved through on Saturday, causing additional damage and outages, particularly in the Three Rivers and Buchanan areas, as well as parts of Northeast and East Central Indiana. Approximately 28,550 customers remain without power, including 26,650 in Michigan and 1,900 in Indiana.
All customers in the Muncie area were restored overnight. In Fort Wayne, only a small number of customers remain without power, with full restoration expected by noon today. The remaining Indiana customers are expected to have service restored by this evening.
Crews that worked throughout the night to restore power to customers in Muncie and Fort Wayne will head north after rest periods to support Michigan restoration efforts.
Crews are making steady progress, and we expect to restore service to 25-30% of the remaining Michigan customers today with the rest expected to be restored by midnight tomorrow. We know many customers have already been without power for an extended period, and we are deploying every available resource—including assistance from other states—to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.
High heat warnings remain in effect across the region. While crews continue working in challenging conditions and wearing protective safety equipment, periodic safety and hydration breaks are necessary to ensure they can continue restoration efforts safely. However, crews remain focused on restoring power to customers as quickly and safely as possible.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Stay Away from Downed Lines: All downed lines should be considered energized and deadly. The power line and anything it could touch, including fences, storm debris, and standing water, can carry electric current that could cause serious or fatal injuries. If you see a fallen wire, keep yourself and others (including pets) away and call local police or I&M immediately at 1-800-311-4634.
- Take It Slow on the Road: Drivers should reduce speed and be on the lookout for utility personnel, emergency responders, and tree removal crews working in the area.
- Check for Local Cooling Centers: Some communities set up cooling centers for people to escape the heat. Check with your local city or county.
- For more safety tips, visit www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/Weather.