DTE Energy keeping crews on standby for possible outages during severe storms

(WXYZ) — DTE Energy is keeping crews on standby in preparation for severe weather that is forecasted to hit Southeast Michigan Wednesday afternoon.

• 'This doesn't happen very often.' Severe storms with 70 mph winds expected this afternoon

DTE says it is taking extra measures to keep people safe, including practicing social distancing and washing equipment between jobs.

Customers can report outages via the DTE app or outage.dteenergy.com.

DTE is offering the following storm preparation and safety tips:

· Charge all mobile devices now and have extra battery packs on hand

· Assemble an emergency kit, including flashlights, candles, a battery-powered radio, bottled water and non-perishable food

· Stay at least 20 feet away from a downed power line. If you suspect a downed line, report it immediately and be sure to keep your family and pets away. Do not drive over downed lines, and know what to do if one falls on your vehicle.

· Never use a portable generator inside your home. It emits carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. Keep it outside, away from windows and doors so the fumes won’t come in.