Behind the Headlines

From monroenews.com:

Consumers Energy Co. reported about 200 Monroe County residents were without power late Wednesday evening when strong thunderstorms ripped across the county.

The company’s Web site is reported about 150,000 customers across the state are without power. Thousands in Wayne and Lenawee Counties are included.

DTE Energy was not reporting any power outtages on its Web site at 10 p.m.

The storm came from the north and hit the county around 7 p.m., with lots of lightning, strong winds and heavy rains. Downpours put standing water in some business parking lots and briefly filled ditches

Traffic along US-23 near the state line came to a brief standstill as a flurry of rain drenched the region. Some downed tree limbs were also being reported.

Showers and potential thunderstorms remain in the forecast for Thursday in the region. The forecast for the holiday, however, appears to be clear.

DTE, meanwhie, reported it was going to start a tree-trimming program in Ida and Berlin Townships this month.

“Tree interference is responsible for about two-thirds of the power outages that occur during storms,” company officials said in a press release. “That’s why Detroit Edison employs more than 500 professional tree trimmers to maintain the estimated 3.5 million trees in its service territory.”