WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- I&M crews are responding to outages caused by this afternoon’s storms and strong winds – especially in the Elkhart, South Bend and southwest Michigan service areas.
- As of 6 p.m., more than 19,500 customers are without power.
- We know it is inconvenient to be without power and every action we take is focused on restoring service safely and as quickly as possible for every customer.
- For updates on your outage, download I&M’s mobile app and enroll in test/email alerts. The app shows outage details and text or email alerts will send you estimated restoration times.
SITUATION:
Heavy rain, strong winds reaching 67 miles per hour and frequent lightning are contributing to power outages across I&M’s Elkhart, South Bend and southwest Michigan service areas.
As of 6 p.m., approximately 19,500 customers are without service. I&M crews are working to restore power to affected customers as quickly and safely as the weather conditions allow. During high wind conditions, it is unsafe for bucket trucks to operate, limiting the types of repairs our crews can perform.
I&M is also monitoring the chance for additional severe storms later this evening. We know outages are inconvenient for customers. We ask for your understanding, as our priority is the safety of our customers, employees and contractors.
RESTORATION UPDATES:
Where it is safe to do so, crews are restoring power and will work through the night. Teams are in neighborhoods looking for damaged poles and downed power lines, making the area safe and reporting back what equipment and crews are needed to make repairs.
Once we have estimated times of restoration, we will share those with customers.
The quickest way to stay updated on restoration times is through the I&M app and text/email alerts. The app shows outage details for your home and business, and text or email alerts will send you estimated restoration times. Customers can download and enroll in alerts here.
Customers can also check outage status anytime at IndianaMichiganPower.com/OutageMap.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Watch out for downed wires. Stay away from downed power lines and anything it may be touching or is hidden by debris – like a fence or a tree. Report any hazard to I&M at 1-800-311-4634 or to local police.
- Be Alert. Trees could fall or drop limbs at any moment. Be alert and look around and up.
- Give crews space. If you see an I&M crew, please give them enough space to work and do not try to ask them questions. They are working with and near dangerous equipment.
- Some traffic lights are out. If a stoplight isn’t working, treat it as a stop sign. Take it slow on the road.
- Use generators safely. Connect all appliances directly to the generator. Don’t connect the generator's electrical output to any home or building electrical circuits. Don’t use gas-powered generators in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, like inside a garage or a home.
- For more safety tips, visit IndianaMichiganPower.com/Weather.