Consumers Energy crews have been restocking their trucks and preparing for possible power outages Wednesday. Around 400 energy crews are on standby as the windy weather comes into West Michigan.
Kent County Sheriff's Office's Emergency Management Coordinator Matt Groesser says the main concern on his mind is safety.
"Wind doesn't discriminate," he says. "We want people to understand if they encounter a downed power line, to stay at least 30 feet away and call 911 to report it. Also, keep in mind that power lines can be in contact with other things, like fences and vehicles.
Safety can apply both to you and your neighbors' property.
"Anything outside that still might be loose, anything that can be picked up and thrown around, we owe that to our neighbors to make sure we're keeping those things inside if possible," Groesser says.
If the power goes out, he's encouraging everyone to use their generators properly.
"If people put them inside a garage or too close to the building, the carbon monoxide that comes out can be deadly," he says.
Groesser says make sure a carbon monoxide detector is working in your home just in case.
If you don't have a generator, Jason Jenkins, owner of Go-To Property Maintenance, says keeping items like flashlights and candles handy is important. And before a storm hits, he suggests keeping up with home maintenance to give you piece of mind.
"If you have broken windows, make sure they're prepared ahead of time," he says. "If you check your roof and make sure there's no lose shingles or siding, and make sure the caps on your chimney are tight because those can blow off."
Groesser also is urging everyone to keep 911 lines open for emergencies only.
"What we don't want you to do is call 911 to find out when the power is coming back on," he says.
It's only been a few days since many people got their power back on from last weekend's windy weather, when more than 50,000 lost their electricity in West Michigan.
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