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DTE Energy preparing for power outages ahead of storm

Posted at 3:27 PM, Feb 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-24 16:25:48-05

With the severe weather comes the threat of power outages.

It's all hands on deck when the forecast calls for severe weather at the DTE Energy headquarter's.

Heather Rivard is the Senior Vice President of Distribution Operations for DTE.

She said, "When bad weather does hit our area because we know it will that we are ready to go."

DTE Energy prepares throughout the year for a storm that's in our forecast.

With strong winds, come downed trees and that's what causes most power outages.

Right now, maps show few outages but they expect that to change as soon as 8 pm.

DTE employees are expecting to work long hours due to the storm, with several hundred crews on standby, depending on the severity of the storm.

Crews are spread out at 13 centers throughout the area waiting to be dispatched.

DTE officials say they've ramped up preparations for storm like this for the past two years in hopes of cutting down the number of power outages.

"Tree trimming and tree removing along our power lines and then we are also doing a lot in the way of infrastructure upgrades, replacing old poles, old equipment, make sure that it is more resilient to the weather."

Right now, officials are most concerned with downed wires, urging folks to assume they are energized.

They want residents to report downed wires immediately by calling 1-800-477-4747 - you can also report it on the mobile app.

DTE Energy will issue updates via Twitter and Facebook too.