BWL: 90% of customers could have power restored by end of Saturday, May 17
About 75% of customers who lost power when a tornado and severe thunderstorm hit the Lansing area on Thursday, May 15, had power back by the start of the weekend, BWL General Manager Dick Peffley said during news conference on Saturday with Mayor Andy Schor. Peffley called it an "unprecedented" storm that left "carnage" in its wake.
The BWL outage map showed about 6,300 customers without power around noon on May 17.
The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down north of Charlotte and moved north toward Delta Township, west of Lansing, while a band of thunderstorms swept across the state on the night of May 15.
A survey team on May 16 determined the twister touched down "just north of Charlotte" and passed to a spot "north of Dimondale and near Waverly," the weather agency's Brandon Hoving said. NWS cooperative observers reported five tornadoes across Michigan Thursday night, along with hail and high winds.
More than 150,000 electric customers across Michigan remained without power Saturday morning, May 17, as cleanup continued after severe storms Thursday and Friday nights.
Peffley referenced the "carnage" left behind by the "unprecedented" storm during the news conference by pointing behind him at a transmission pole suspended by electrical wires over a section of Wood Street, south of Lake Lansing Road. The 110-foot tall poles are rarely knocked down during storms, Peffley said, happening just twice in the past 25 years.
"This tornado took down 22 of those poles in four different locations," he said.
Schor noted that Saturday was May 15 — 517 Day — and encouraged anyone without power to get out around the city. And Peffley said that BWL is partnering with the Lansing Lugnuts to pay for tickets to game on Sunday, May 18. BWL customers can bring a bill or driver's license and get tickets for them and their family.
"We do appreciate everyone's patience," Schor said. "We know that folks are giving grace. They all see the damage, and they're all helping out their neighbors. ... In Lansing, we are an incredible community. People are helping others. You drive around and you see it."
Schor and Peffley said storm damage costs aren't yet know. Both said the city and utility are keeping track of overtime hours and supplies and anticipate seeking state or federal recovery funds.
Pointing to one challenge of the work, Peffley said that shortly after crews restored power to about 1,000 customers, a tree fell and damaged the circuit that had just been repaired, knocking power out to those same 1,000 customers.
Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: BWL: 90% of customers could have power back by end of Saturday, May 17
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