High winds, then a loss of power, and now, the cold.
That’s what’s happening now in the aftermath of a severe wind storm. Thousands may be without power over the weekend, as temperatures begin to plunge into the teens.
Power was lost to about 700,000 DTE Energy customers and 290,000 customers of Consumers Energy across southeast and south-central Michigan.
A number of customers had been restored.
Utility crews begin marathon shifts, and crews from other states are arriving to help restore electricity.
Winds clocked as high as 69 m.p.h. at Metro Airport knocked down more trees and power lines than usual because the ground was soft and saturated with this winter’s unusually heavy rains.
High winds were also blamed for other emergencies, including an apartment fire on Detroit’s east side that caused five deaths. One man is in custody for the fire, which is determined to be deliberately set. Gusts as high as 69 m.p.h. were a contributing factor at Willow Run Airport when a chartered jet by the University of Michigan’s basketball team, coaching staff and cheerleaders aborted its takeoff and slid off a runway and through a fence. A number of passengers were shook up, but there were no serious injuries.
The Detroit Fire Department responded to nearly 200 fire calls.
Firefighters said in a normal day, they battle eight structure fires. But on Wednesday, they responded to 64 structure fires, 82 downed wires and a total of 174 fire calls.
Traffic signals are out in many areas. Courts and public libraries are closed in many communities.