DTE outages in Southeast Michigan - over 266,000 without power
DTE Outage map Tuesday morning. Screengrab via utility company website
(FOX 2) - The color of DTE's outage map looked more like the rainbow after Monday night's storm in Southeast Michigan than the loss of power they represent.
Some 266,000 homes were left without power Tuesday after severe weather that included wind gusts strong enough to create a tornado knocked down wires and disrupted electricity around the region.
DTE has sent out 1,890 crews in the field.
DTE held a press conference at 2:30 p.m. to provide more information on the outage which they said was due to trees on private property.
Much of the outages were reserved for south I-69 and dispersed throughout the tri-county area.
DTE said it had "mobilized" 220 storm teams to "quickly" address the outages that sparked from the storms in a tweet Monday. Repairs were to begin once it was safe to do so.
SEVERE WEATHER AFTERMATH: Boil advisories, power outages, a tornado, and a live wire death
As with any wide scale outages, DTE warned anyone to avoid downed wires over fears it could electrocute someone. Authorities in Monroe County confirmed one 14-year-old died after touching a live wire.
There was no estimated time of restoration, according to DTE.
Lose power in Michigan? Here's how to apply for reimbursement from DTE
The number of affected customers of Consumers Energy was less than half of DTE's total. Many of those without power were west in Jackson, Calhoun, Ingham, and Eaton County.