KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — Around 21,000 Michiganders are without power after severe weather rolled through Southwest Michigan on Monday evening.
Consumers Energy is reporting about 13,000 customers without power and Indiana Michigan Power, who serves parts of Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, is reporting around 8,000 outages in Michigan.
The outages are mainly in the southwestern portion of the state in Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Cass and Berrien counites, but there are also pockets of outages in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties.
Consumers Energy spokesperson RoNeisha Mullen says power is expected to be restored by the end of Tuesday. Additional crews will be assigned Tuesday morning to address the hardest-hit areas.
A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa and Van Buren counties until midnight.
As crews respond to possibly dangerous situations, people should keep their distance and call in crews to address downed lines by calling 911 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
With dangerously high heat coming to West Michigan on Tuesday, anyone without power in need of help should call 211 to get help locating a cooling center.
Any Michiganders using generators should also place their generators more than 25 feet from any doors, windows or fresh air intakes. A generator should never be used in an enclosed space.
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