Gov. Snyder activates state’s emergency operations center to monitor wind storm damage
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder has activated the state’s emergency operations center to closely monitor and share information as increasing reports of storm damage and power outages across the state are becoming available from local communities and utilities, officials announced Wednesday.
“As Michiganders are struggling with storm damage and power outages from some of the extreme winds that are blowing through the state, our first priority is the safety and security of residents,” Snyder said. “Utility companies have been spending much of the afternoon just trying to get a handle on how many lines are down and how best to restore power as quickly as possible.”
Current reports indicate that approximately over half a million electric customers have lost power to homes and businesses across Michigan.
The Local 4Casters said winds will diminish to around 30 mph overnight and drop to 15 mph during the day Thursday, there is also a chance of colder temperatures arriving statewide.
“We will be proactively coordinating our state departments and agencies with the utility companies to continuously assess the number of people without electricity and how long it will be until power is restored,” Snyder said. “We also will be coordinating with local communities to see if they have additional needs to help their residents as the temperatures go down.”
The Michigan Public Service Commission and Michigan Agency for Energy have been in regular contact with the utility companies since yesterday when the first storm damages started to occur in the Upper Peninsula.
