250,000 DTE Customers Still Without Power Friday After Metro Detroit Storms

Nearly 250,000 DTE Energy customers across metro Detroit woke up Friday without power, two days after storms brought high winds and heavy rain to the region, including a tornado that touched down on Detroit's east side for the first time in nearly 30 years.

DTE reported 255,345 customers without service around 10 a.m. Friday, a number that fell to roughly 241,000 by mid-afternoon as crews worked through the backlog. At the peak of the storms Thursday, more than 350,000 of the company's 2 million customers had lost power. DTE said it had restored service to about 145,000 customers by early Friday morning and more than 75,000 additional customers by that afternoon.

The company says it expects to have 65% of affected customers back on by the end of Friday, 90% by the end of Saturday, and everyone restored by the end of Sunday. DTE has assigned more than 3,400 storm response workers to the effort, including over 1,000 lineworkers brought in from other states.

"We appreciate everyone's patience as we work around the clock to safely and efficiently restore everybody," a DTE spokesperson said at a Friday morning briefing.

The damage stretched across the region. In Allen Park, residents described uprooted trees, crushed vehicles and homes battered by wind. Kimberly Shotwell, whose brand-new Ford Bronco was damaged in the storm, said the destruction reminded her of neighboring communities. "I think everyone from Ecorse to here are all out of power," she said. Steve Heath, another Allen Park resident, said the aftermath "looks like a warzone" and recalled a July 4th weekend storm that knocked out his family's power for three days and spoiled a relative's refrigerated food.

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down on Detroit's east side Thursday, the city's first since 1997, according to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's office. A separate tornado hit Marysville Wednesday evening at 7:19 p.m., carving a path 0.35 miles long and 175 yards wide with winds reaching 75 mph. Cleanup on Belle Isle was underway Friday.

Rainfall totals across the region were heavy even before the tornadoes formed. The National Weather Service recorded 2.7 inches in Lyndon Township in Washtenaw County and 2.24 inches in Ortonville by Friday morning, with Livonia receiving 1.71 inches and Sterling Heights 1.58. Overnight storms Thursday dropped 2.34 inches on Royal Oak, 2.17 on Commerce Township and 2.04 on Eastpointe. Flooding forced state officials to close some roads until water drained.

In Detroit, the fire department conducted door-to-door checks Thursday to find residents who might be trapped by fallen trees or debris, while additional crews cleared streets and sidewalks. The Department of Public Works said roughly 80 intersections lost traffic signal power and responded by deploying generators and temporary stop signs. In Beverly Hills, both directions of Evergreen Road between Elwood Street and Plantation Lane were closed Friday because of a wire hanging over the roadway and a small brush fire; public safety officials directed drivers to use Panay Drive for emergency detours.

Consumers Energy, which also serves parts of the region, reported about 5,700 customers still affected by 317 outages Friday afternoon, down from roughly 23,000 at the height of the storms and 15,477 at 10 a.m.

DTE urged residents to stay at least 25 feet from downed power lines and anything touching them, warning that lines can remain energized even if they appear motionless or silent. The company said generators should be run outside and kept away from homes, garages and windows. Downed lines can be reported to DTE at 800-477-4747 or Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050; anyone who believes a line poses an immediate danger is advised to call 911.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents heading into the Labor Day weekend to be cautious of storm-related scams, including unlicensed contractors and people posing as utility representatives demanding upfront payment for faster restoration. "Heading into the holiday weekend, many homeowners may look to clean up storm damage as quickly as possible, but it's imperative to slow down to protect yourself from bad actors," Nessel said in a statement Friday, urging residents to verify contractors before paying and to avoid cash payments made in full upfront.

Another round of storms was possible in the region Friday. DTE said full restoration is expected by the end of Sunday, though residents in the hardest-hit neighborhoods, including parts of Allen Park and Detroit's east side, may be among the last to get power back as crews clear debris and rebuild damaged lines.