High winds are expected around much of Michigan this weekend, and utilities are bracing themselves. Consumers Energy spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells WSJM News crews are ready to respond to outages.
“We’ve been seeing predictions that we could have gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, and it’s at that point where we do take our preparations very seriously because wind gusts like that can knock down not just a branch but entire trees themselves,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler says, fortunately, the crews are well rested.
“It’s not cold enough, thankfully, for ice and snow. We’ll see that soon enough. But when you do see wind that gets above 50 miles per hour, it can be very powerful and damaging.”
Wheeler advises everyone to make sure their phones are charged and to have a flashlight ready for the weekend. He also warns those who see downed power lines to stay away from them and assume they’re live. If you do see a downed power line, call 911.
