Great Lakes Ice Storm Restoration

Michels Power, Inc.’s Storm Response Team mobilized after an early spring ice storm slammed northern Michigan, toppling millions of trees and knocking out power to more than 40,000 homes and businesses. Michels’ construction manager and superintendent met with the utility’s director of operations to create a strategy for power restoration. Following a safety meeting, 343 crew members were issued work tickets and formulated a plan for completing the work swiftly. 

Crews began by grounding lines for tree trimmers, cutting up poles blocking roadways, and picking up poles and other materials in preparation for the days ahead. A total of 312 pieces of equipment, including bucket trucks, digger derricks and other special tracked equipment, were deployed to access hard-to-reach locations, while certified drone pilots assessed damage from the air. 

According to the utility, this ice storm caused the worst damage to poles and lines the area had ever experienced. The challenges presented by inches-thick ice encasing power lines and poles were compounded by difficult-to-access terrain also covered by ice and snow, including roads blocked due to fallen trees and poles. Michels’ safety-first approach resulted in zero injuries. After restoring the power, many crew members remained to repair damaged fiber optic cable.