Whitmer: How I'll know when state of emergency is over

Bill Laitner | Detroit Free Press

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday declared a state of disaster for Grand Rapids after a severe ice storm that began Thursday left more than 150,000 people in western Michigan without electric power and many stranded by hazardous driving conditions.

“This declaration will ensure state assistance is available to help the community with recovery efforts," Whitmer said.

It was the second time in 10 days when Whitmer had the state respond to power shortages suffered by customers of Jackson-based Consumers Energy. On Jan. 31, Whitmer asked the Michigan Public Service Commission on Thursday to conduct a review of Michigan’s energy supply and preparedness.

Her request followed a fire that broke out a day earlier at a Consumers Energy natural-gas pump station in Macomb County that had Whitmer assisting the utility in asking that gas customers, both residential and commercial, cut back their natural gas usage to avert possible shutoffs. At the same time, DTE, the state's other major utility, asked consumers to lower their electricity usage.

Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press

By declaring a state of disaster in Grand Rapids, Whitmer made available all state resources to assist local authorities in recovery efforts. By Saturday evening, an estimated 50,000 utility customers — each representing a household or commercial site — were without electric power. Her declaration authorized the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) to coordinate state efforts, according to a news release.

The severe winter weather that began February 7 knocked down trees and power lines across the city of Grand Rapids, said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.

“Our current services are deployed at full capacity. However, they are not sufficient to meet the significant needs across our city. This has led us to partner with the state to help secure additional resources," Bliss said in a statement.

I am declaring a state of emergency for the City of Grand Rapids due to widespread power outages and hazardous driving conditions caused by severe weather.https://t.co/ZT67nIdwxP — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) February 10, 2019