20K remain without power in Southwest Michigan after tornado

UPDATE: As of 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, the number of Consumers outages has decreased to 9,223 households.

PORTAGE, MI -- Consumers Energy is working around the clock to restore power after one confirmed tornado and a reported second one tore through the city on Tuesday, May 7.

There are 160 electric line and 70 gas crews working in the region now, said Consumers Vice President of Operations Chris Laird.

Of the 30,000 customers without power last night, about 20,000 remain as of mid-Wednesday afternoon, Laird said. Consumers’ goal is to bring them back online by midnight. Those in the hardest hit areas may not get power back until Thursday, May 9, he said.

MORE: EF2 tornado confirmed in southern Michigan, peak wind hit 135 mph

About 5,800 Consumers customers in Portage, or 22.7%, are without power as of 5:25 p.m. This morning, about half of Portage was without power.

“The storm and multiple tornadoes that swept through the region Tuesday really caused a lot of havoc for us,” Laird said. “We’re having challenges getting down roads with all the trees that are down.”

The process of safely detangling trees and power lines is slow, Laird said. Having done it himself as a former line worker and volunteer firefighter, he thanked crews and first responders for their efforts.

About 100 forester crews are working to clear trees, debris and more than 200 broken poles from roads.

Residents can continue to check the status of outages at ConsumersEnergy.com or sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message online.

In the case of an electrical or gas emergency, customers can call 911 or 1-800-477-5050.

Shelter and aid is available to residents without power and whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the storm at Kalamazoo First Assembly of God church, 5550 Oakland Drive.

RELATED: For families displaced by reported tornado, community rushes to help

For more on Tuesday’s tornadoes in Portage, click here.