The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, July 29, 1980-Page 5
AFTER
T"HE STFORM.
Detroit Edison extends its thanks
to more than 3000 customers who suffered from the
most severe thunderstormon record.
Your patience and understanding helped
make orderly restoration of electricity
possible.
The thunderstorm that struck at 9 A.M.
Wednesday, July 16 was the worst in the
area's history. Over 500 utility poles were
snapped like toothpicks by hurricane
force winds.
8,000 spans of Detroit Edison wire were
ripped apart and 700 miles of overhead
lines downed. Facilities which took years
to build were destroyed in a few minutes.
Much of the damage was caused by trees
falling on lines and poles.
Immediately after the skies cleared,
experienced damage evaluators began to
assess the degree of destruction.
Transmission towers and cross arms
were twisted piles of steel.
Thousands of uprooted trees littered
the streets blocking access to power lines.
Nearly 35 substations and 200 dis-
tribution circuits were interrupted.
In all, more than 300,000 customers
were left without power.
By noon, repair crews were transferred
to the southern portion of Detroit Edison's
electrical system where the damage was
heaviest. On Thursday, every available
company, contract and tree trim crew
was at work in Detroit and Wayne,
Washtenaw and Livingston counties.
Working ahead of the repair crews,
evaluators determined the degree of
trouble in each circuit. They estimated
requirements for crews and equipment.
So massive was the destruction that
almost immediately Detroit Edison called
for help from other utilities through its
Mutual Assistance Pact. Soon, 101 crews
from out-of-state utilities, including
Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Toledo
Edison, Ohio Edison and Commonwealth
Edison of Chicago were working along-
side Detroit Edison crews.
Restoration efforts went on around the
clock. In 90 degree heat more than 2000
field workers labored on 16-hour shifts
to restore power to customers in a repair
program that continued until all power
was restored. Repair work carried on even'
through the following Sunday's heavy
thunderstorm which deprived 15,000
additional customers of electricity.
First priority in power restoration is
given to emergency facilities such as
hospitals or buildings housing medical
equipment. Next, police and fire stations,
water and sewage pumping stations, as
well as high voltage transmission and
subtransmission lines feeding individual
substations are restored. In all cases, those
repairs which restore power to the
greatest number of customers and take
the least time are given priority.
At this report, Detroit Edison believes
it has restored power to all customers left
without electricity by the recent storm.
It was hard work, skill and dedication
that made this so. And for this Detroit
Edison says a special thank you to the
repair crews and Detroit Edison people
supporting them.
We also express our appreciation to the
many customers who talked to the crews
in person or who telephoned or wrote
our offices to say thank you.
If you or someone you know is still
without electricity, please contact
your nearest Detroit Edison customer
office.
Detroit
Keeping the power in your hands