Power Restoration Progress in Presque Isle Following Ice Storm

News Summary

Presque Isle is making notable progress in power restoration after a historic ice storm in late March. As of April 13, over 85% of residents have regained power, totaling 29,661 members. The storm caused extensive damage, especially in Lewiston, leading to the replacement of more than 1,400 broken poles. While most areas have seen improvements, Lewiston is still facing challenges. Despite debris blocking roads and the need for repairs at damaged substations, community resilience and utility coordination are crucial in ongoing recovery efforts.

Power Restoration Progress in Presque Isle Following Ice Storm

Presque Isle is on the mend, and the community is seeing some much-needed progress in power restoration after a historic ice storm swept through Northern Michigan in late March. As of April 13, over 85% of residents in the area serviced by Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-Op (PIE&G) have had their power restored. That’s a total of 29,661 members who can now say goodbye to the darkness and plug back into their everyday lives.

This severe storm left its mark, inflicting significant damage across the region, particularly in the hard-hit area of Lewiston. Reports indicate that the aftermath of the storm was so devastating that, in certain stretches, every power pole was broken or knocked down. The sheer magnitude of destruction has been described as comparable to that of a hurricane, which is quite alarming considering Michigan is no stranger to severe weather.

In their ongoing restoration efforts, PIE&G has had to replace more than 1,400 broken poles. The scale of the emergency called for an organized response, with the utility coordinating an impressive fleet of 788 vehicles and equipment and managing around 409 crews and a total of 1,430 personnel working tirelessly in the field. Most areas have fared better and are on track for power restoration; however, Lewiston is still facing an uphill battle, with repairs expected to take an additional two to three days.

Accessing damaged lines has proven to be a challenge. Fallen trees and debris have blocked many roads, further complicating the restoration process. Despite these obstacles, over 100 crews were deployed specifically to focus on restoring the primary electric system. As of April 2, only 7,700 of the 35,000 electric members had their power back on, highlighting the challenging circumstances PIE&G faced at the storm’s peak.

The storm wreaked havoc not just on the power lines, but many substations were also damaged, leaving them offline during crucial recovery efforts. In the broader Northern Michigan area, Consumers Energy has reported that nearly 90% of its 350,000 customers affected by the ice storm have had their power restored, which gives hope around the region. Additionally, Great Lakes Energy had about 33,000 customers still without power in its territory, showing that the recovery is a combined effort among several utilities.

In Cheboygan County, conditions are reportedly improving, allowing for the recovery teams to make more headway. Local officials have been proactive, with bottled water shipments arriving to assist residents in need—a crucial lifeline for community members adjusting to the challenges posed by the storm.

The state has stepped in as well, acknowledging the storm’s severity and providing resources to support the ongoing recovery efforts. Safety remains a top priority for the utility, emphasizing that communities should prepare for potential extended outages for the individual service lines that have been affected. As the damage counts climb, initial assessments note over 450 confirmed broken poles, with speculation that the final tally could reach 1,500 or more.

Through these trying times, community resilience has been remarkable. The ongoing support for restoration crews has been noted and greatly appreciated by PIE&G. Customers are being encouraged to explore alternate accommodations until their power is fully restored and to keep reporting any outages they experience. As the utility works alongside local, state, and federal government levels to secure emergency support, Northern Michigan residents can take heart in knowing that brighter days are on the horizon.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Cheboygan News
• Wikipedia: Ice Storm
• Up North Voice
• Google Search: Power Restoration Northern Michigan
• 9 & 10 News
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Presque Isle Michigan

Author: HERE Novi