Northern Michigan endured a doozy of a storm on Sunday, August 2, and three of our member cooperatives experienced substantial power outages throughout their service areas. Approximately 38,670 Great Lakes members, 12,800 Cherryland members, and 6,500 Presque Isle members lost power during the storm. HomeWorks and Midwest Energy had minimal outages that were restored the same day, and they sent crews to assist Cherryland and Great Lakes. Presque Isle also sent two crews in to assist Great Lakes once their system was fully operational.
Crews from Cherryland and Midwest hand setting a pole after the big storm
Crews from Cherryland and Midwest hand setting a pole after the big storm
Workers from Cherryland actually had to set a pole by hand in their service area. According to Cherryland’s Member Services Manager, Rachel Johnson, the storm caused a pole to break deep in the woods. A crew of six, including three from Cherryland and three from Midwest Energy, was able to drop a new pole in a member’s driveway and then carry it through the woods up a hill to the site. From there, they dug a hole by hand and then set the pole the old-fashioned way.
When the time came to get the power back on, Wolverine jumped in to help out as well. According to Wolverine’s Transmission Maintenance Manager, Klint Weaver, Wolverine linemen assisted both Cherryland and Great Lakes to restore power to their members. “Sixteen linemen put in nearly 800 hours in five days”, Weaver states. “Several even worked Sunday night into Monday morning on the transmission system before heading off to work for the coops”. When it was all said and done, Presque Isle had all power restored by Tuesday, August 4, Cherryland had power fully restored by Friday, August 7, and all Great Lakes’ members were restored by Saturday, August 8.
Let’s give a shout out and a job well done to the crews at Cherryland, Great Lakes, Midwest Energy, Presque Isle, and the Wolverine crew, including: John Hayka, Jerry Galer, Chris Romel, Trevor Stratton, Adam Kelley, Ed Boyer, Steve Robbins, Nicholas Ochampaugh, Ed Straathof, Dave Stieg, Russell Holmes, Ben Balcom, Adam Mays, Lucas Waltz, Bill Bremer, Pat Flinsky, Jim Dietlin, Dan Striegle, and Klint Weaver. These individuals went above and beyond to restore power in an efficient and safe manner. Thanks!
