ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WXYZ) — Damage is extensive following Tuesday’s storms, as winds knocked down power poles in our area and caused arduous cleanup efforts.
In Southfield, power poles were knocked down by strong winds, and in Royal Oak, uprooted trees and branches covered the entire street.
Check out DTE Energy’s update Tuesday night after more than 200,000 customers were left without power:
DTE Energy provides update after destructive storms in southeast Michigan
Sam Thiele was finishing his shift at Wendy’s near 10 Mile Road and Northwestern Highway in Southfield around 6 p.m. when he heard loud thunder and a gust of wind. The power went out, so he went outside and found several power poles knocked down by the wind and live wires strewn across the streets.
“Pure Michigan weather. That’s all I have to say,” Thiele said.
In Royal Oak, many residents remain without power, including neighbors Michael Zaccardelli and Lucas Neugebauer, who live in the area of 14 Mile and Woodward Road.
Zaccardelli heard about the extreme weather conditions on Tuesday evening and decided to drive his car off the road. Fifteen minutes later, the tree in his front yard fell exactly where his car had been just moments before.
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“The engine would have broken down for sure. It would have been a total loss,” he said. “Everyone is safe and we are just grateful that no one was hurt.”
Neugebauer saw the tree fall while he was out with his children and is grateful that no one was injured.
“I saw a big gust of wind and saw the tree slowly drop and fall in slow motion. It was pretty wild,” he said.
Emergency crews and residents plan to continue cleanup efforts throughout the night and into Wednesday morning.
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Current figures on power outages can be found at DTE website.
