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Southeast Michigan power outages: What to do if you see a downed wire

By Amber Ainsworth
Published  February 23, 2023 10:24am EST
Winter Weather
FOX 2 Detroit

Falling branches, heavy ice disrupting power in Southeast Michigan

DTE said ice wreaked havoc on its power grid Wednesday night when ice that froze to surfaces weighed them down, snapping wires and trees. That includes branches which came crashing onto wires, as well as the wires themselves.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Wednesday's ice storm brought down power lines across Southeast Michigan, leading to power outages and creating dangerous situations for people and pets.

If there is an emergency, such as a fire or you see a power line on an unoccupied car, first call 911 then call the power company. DTE Energy can be reached at 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy can be reached at 800-477-5050.

Treat all wires as live, even if you don't think they are.

For non-emergency situations, you can report the wire to DTE online here.

Stay at least 20 feet from the wires. Do not touch the power lines or use an object to touch them. Do not drive over downed wires. Also, avoid touching anything the wire touches, such as a fence or a puddle.

Check the latest power outage numbers here.

Be sure to keep pets and children away from the lines, too.

If you are inside your vehicle and a wire falls on it, DTE says to stay inside and call 911. 

However, if you must get out of the vehicle, DTE advises removing loose clothing, and getting out without touching the frame. Jump with your feet together to avoid touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Do not remove your feet until you are at least 20 feet away from the vehicle.