SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Indiana and Michigan Power crews are preparing to respond to any damage caused by anticipated strong winds that are forecast for Sunday.

A full complement of line crews, damage assessment specialists, dispatchers and support personnel necessary for storm damage restoration have been called in to work early Sunday. In addition, I&M personnel will be prepared to respond as always to any emergencies overnight, said company representatives.

A prolonged period of sustained high winds of 30 miles per hour or more with frequent gusts that could reach 65 mph is forecast beginning early Sunday and lasting through much of the day. Such sustained winds and strong gusts could cause damage to power lines and other equipment, possibly over a widespread area.

If the wind storm does hit the southwest Michigan area, I&M cautions customers and the public to exercise precautions to protect their safety. Stay away from any downed lines, and report downed wires to I&M at (800) 311-4634 in Indiana and (800) 311-6424 in Michigan.

I&M is asking that customers be aware that I&M’s ability to use aerial work platforms – often referred to as bucket trucks or cherry pickers – to reach wires, pole tops and transformers can be impeded by high winds, possibly affecting the timeliness of restoration. Additionally, damaged trees and branches could fall hours after their initial damage. Downed trees and branches could also block roads, causing safety concerns and affecting I&M’s ability to reach damaged equipment quickly.

Customers should report outages to I&M. In addition to calling I&M by phone at the numbers above, customers can report outages and check the latest restoration information for their account via the company’s website, IndianaMichiganPower.com/Outages, or its mobile app, which can be found by searching for Indiana Michigan Power in the App Store or Google Play to download.

Public safety agencies strongly encourage everyone to have an emergency kit on-hand that includes items such as blankets, food, water, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio and cell phone with charger.