WEST MICHIGAN — High winds caused damage and knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses around West Michigan.
Sara Kay shared photos of a barn that was destroyed by the high winds in the Coopersville area. Thankfully she says no animals were injured.
At the height of the storm, just over 28,400 Consumers Energy customers were without power. Most of the outages are in Kent, Allegan & Newaygo Counties with 16,690 customers without power in Kent County, 2,110 customers without power in Allegan County and 990 customers without power in Allegan. The outage numbers have gone down as crews start to restore power.
Downed power lines also closed a part of Lake Michigan Drive in both directions near 14th Avenue west of Standale around 6:30 Sunday morning. The road has since reopened.
FOX 17 meteorologists report wind gusts to around 60 miles an hour are expected today with a high wind warning.
The Consumers Energy Outage Center has information on restoration times, tips on what you can do before, during and after a storm and how you can sign up for free outage alerts.
Consumers Energy offers these critical safety tips:
- Be aware of the potential for downed electric lines. If you see a downed wire, stay at least 25 feet away and report it by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
- Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas.
Midwest Energy is also reporting a number of outages due to the wind. You can check the outage numbers and additional safety information on Midwest Energy.
Stay with the FOX 17 Weather team for updates throughout the day.
