A prolonged ice storm has coated northern Michigan in thick glaze, snapping countless trees and utility poles and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers across the state without power. Officials are calling it one of the worst ice storms in the region’s history, and rural electric cooperatives warn that full restoration in the hardest-hit counties will take a week or more.

When the Infrastructure Itself Breaks

This storm did not just knock lines down. It destroyed poles, crossarms, and entire corridors of line through forested terrain, forcing utilities to rebuild rather than repair. Homeowners with standby generators are heating their homes and running well pumps while the rebuild continues. Those without are relying on shelters and neighbors.

Preparing for Late-Winter Surprises

• Inspect your standby generator and keep it maintained even as spring approaches. Ice season is not over until it is over.
• Run a test cycle to confirm reliable starting and transfer.
• Confirm propane levels or natural gas service ahead of long-duration events.
• Consider whole-home backup from Generac or Kohler, built to run for days when restoration stretches out.

Stay Informed

Follow your utility’s restoration maps and local emergency management updates, and never run any generator indoors or in an enclosed space.