Severe storms Thursday knocked out power to more than 350,000 utility customers across Southeast Michigan, with heavy rain, high winds and at least one tornado leaving extensive damage across the region.
DTE Energy, which serves 2 million customers in the area, reported 241,000 still without service by 3:30 p.m. Friday—down from 255,345 outages at 10 a.m. The utility said crews had restored power to more than 75,000 customers, with 145,000 brought back online by early Friday morning.
DTE outlined an aggressive restoration timeline: 65 percent of customers by end of day Friday, 90 percent by end of day Saturday, and the remainder by end of day Sunday. The company mobilized 3,400 employees, including more than 1,000 field workers brought in from outside Michigan.
Consumers Energy reported approximately 5,700 customers affected by 317 outages by Friday afternoon, down from 15,477 customers without power at 10 a.m. and a peak of 23,000 outages during the storms.
The weather created immediate public safety challenges across Metro Detroit. The Beverly Hills Public Safety Department closed both directions of Evergreen Road between Elwood Street and Plantation Lane due to a downed wire and small brush fire. Numerous stoplights went out across Detroit, where the National Weather Service recorded more than three-quarters of an inch of rain Thursday. Lyndon Township in Washtenaw County recorded 2.7 inches, while Ortonville in Oakland County saw 2.24 inches.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents Friday to watch for storm repair scams. Unethical contractors or individuals posing as utility company representatives may demand payment for faster service restoration, she said.
"Heading into the holiday weekend, many homeowners may look to clean up storm damage as quickly as possible, but it's imperative to slow down to protect yourself from bad actors," Nessel said. "When in doubt, take a breath and verify any claims before handing over your hard-earned money."
Nessel advised consumers to research contractors and avoid paying in cash or upfront in full.
DTE Energy reminded residents to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and anything touching them. For those using generators, the company instructed keeping them outside and away from homes, garages and windows.
