Thunderstorms cause widespread damage across Metro Detroit
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (Fox 2) - Thunderstorms on Wednesday night caused widespread damage in Metro Detroit, especially in lower Oakland County.
This week's intense heat fueled the heavy rain and strong winds of the strong storms.
Berkley, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, and Beverly Hills are some areas waking up to storm damage, including downed trees and power lines.
As of 6:40 a.m. Thursday, around 40,000 DTE customers are without power. Check the DTE Outage Map here.
At Oakland/Troy Airport, which is on the border of Royal Oak and Troy near Coolidge and 14 Mile, a small plane was flipped upside down by the storm. This was not a plane crash, and no injuries were reported, the airport said.
On Fairfax near 13 Mile and Greenfield in Beverly Hills, a large tree is blocking the road.
Off Greenfield, north of 11 Mile in Berkley, police blocked roads on Wednesday night due to an arcing wire that flames have been sparking out of. Just south of 12 Mile, a downed tree caused damage to the roof of an apartment building.
Roseville also had some downed wires and branches.
A plane flipped upside down at Oakland/Troy Airport after strong thunderstorms
"It didn't seem like much. I was standing on my porch. It started raining pretty heavy, and then we got some hail. And then I saw lightning actually hit that transformer over there," Roseville resident Josh Collins said.
He saw a power line fall onto a house and called 911.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
The cleanup continues in many areas of the Metro Detroit area - with damage either taking place Wednesday evening or during the day Thursday.
"Just all of the sudden loud thunder - really loud. No. The rain was really coming down," said William Newsome. Farmington Hills at the Detroit Baptist Manor Apartments was no exception.
"The severe weather knocked out power Wednesday night I saw lightning and then I saw some fizzling in the refrigerator and some lights going off and on - and then pop - that was it," said Freda, Newsome's caretaker.
On the Beverly Hills-Southfield border, numerous trees were downed as well as power lines. It caused a section of 13 Mile closed - with Mother Nature always getting the last word.
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.
For non-emergency situations, you can report the wire to DTE online here.