March 24, 2016 – 4 p.m.
An estimated 1,580 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power late Thursday afternoon in 11 counties served by the electric cooperative due to power line damage caused by the massive storm.
Crews have restored almost 10,000 Great Lakes Energy members since the start of the storm which has brought ice, sleet, wind and heavy wet snow to much of the lower peninsula. Hardest hit were counties where up to one-quarter to one-half inch of ice is expected to coat trees and power lines before the storm’s predicted end late tonight. The storm is also expected to dump 5 to 10 inches of wet, heavy snow in some areas.
Most of the remaining outages are in parts of Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola counties where storm damage is the most severe. Smaller, scattered outages are also affecting Great Lakes Energy members in parts of Emmet, Kent, Manistee, Montcalm and Muskegon counties.
Due to the severe widespread damage, members who don’t have their power restored by 8 p.m. will likely not have their electricity restored today.
All available Great Lakes Energy service crews are being assisted by privately-contracted line repair and tree-trimming crews in the restoration work.
Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines and also stay clear of trees and limbs that are hanging on the lines.
Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central.
GLE members should report their outage by calling the electric cooperative’s toll-free number: 1-888-485-2537.
