Weather causes power outages, school and road closures

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 25th 5:00 p.m.

UPPER PENINSULA — Although the waves have calmed down, Lakeshore Boulevard continues to remain closed today for clean-up. The closure begins at Crescent Street and continues until Presque Isle Park.

There was flooding in the area and debris, including sand, is clogging up the roadways. The public should refrain from walking or biking in the area until clean up is over.

Clean-up is expected to be complete within the next day or two.

The Marquette Compost drop-off site is also closed today because of the Lakeshore Boulevard closure. That will re-open this Saturday, October 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Presque Isle Park will also remain closed until further notice.

EB & WB M-26 (Sand Dunes Dr) between Eagle Harbor Rd and Garden City Rd in Keweenaw County has re-opened.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 25th 9:30 a.m.

UPPER PENINSULA — The coverage maps for both UPPCO and the Marquette Board of Light and Power show that thousands of residents across the U.P. are still experiencing power outages. Crews are going into their second day of working to restore power to the affected areas.

UPPCO is specifically asking customers to report any outages they are still experiencing by contacting UPPCO’s Customer Contact Center at (800) 562-7680 or through UPPCO’s Online Portal.

Customers should be mindful of portable generator safety when using them during system outages. Always operate portable generators outside and away from homes, garages and outbuildings.

As a reminder, please stay away from downed power lines. They could still be energized.

Some of the outages are affecting traffic lights. Please use caution when going through these intersections.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 9:00 p.m.

UPPER PENINSULA — UPPCO released another statement in regards to the amount of people without power and the restoring power to the affect areas.

As of 5:00 p.m., approximately 6,000 UPPCO customers were without power throughout portions of Marquette, Alger, Delta, Houghton and Keweenaw counties due to high winds and adverse weather conditions. The hardest hit areas include Gwinn, Little Lake, Dead River Basin, Au Train, Chatham, Munising and the Keweenaw Peninsula.

UPPCO crews and support staff are continuing to address outages as they occur. Additional support is being provide by contractors and supplemental resources to expedite the restoration effort.

The company is experience higher than normal call volume due to the weather. Customers may experience longer wait times when contacting the Customer Contact Center. Another way to contact the company is on the Online Portal.

UPPCO anticipates some customers may be without power through the night, as storm restoration work continues. Customers are encouraged to seek shelter, as necessary, until power is restored as lower temperatures are expected through the evening.

The company will provide updates as the storm passed and power is restored to all customers.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 4:00 p.m.

GWINN — Another warming shelter has been opened to the public. The #1 Fire Hall at 99 North Pine Street in Gwinn is opening it’s doors to those without water or power.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 4:00 p.m.

MARQUETTE — Both the YMCA of Marquette County and the Lake View Arena have opened their doors to the public in response to power and water outages in the area.

The Marquette City staff, County Emergency Management officials and staff from the American Red Cross have set up a warming shelter at Lake View Arena’s Concessions stand today from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Coffee, water and snacks will be provided.

Those with health related issues or those who are on oxygen should contact 911 if the power is not restored into the evening hours.

The YMCA is allowing the public to shower or charge their phones at their facility. Read more about this story HERE.

Two people were allegedly swept into Lake Superior near Black Rocks. Read more about this story HERE.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 1:30 p.m.

NEGAUNEE — The Marquette County Health Department, along with all County offices at 184 US-41 in Negaunee have been closed due to power failure. This includes the Commission on Aging and the MSU Extension Service.

The Health Department is expected to reopen for business on Wednesday morning.

HOUGHTON COUNTY — Per the Keweenaw Report, a few high school volleyball matches have been cancelled, including Dollar Bay vs. Bessemer and Ewen-Trout Creek vs. Chassell.

The Copper Country Audubon Society Chocolay Raptor session tonight has also been canceled.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 12:45 p.m.

KEWEENAW COUNTY — The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced EB & WB M-26 (Sand Dunes Dr) between Eagle Harbor Rd and Garden City Rd has been closed in Keweenaw County. This closure is due to the high winds that are in the area.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 12:00 p.m.

SAULT STE. MARIE — Cloverland Electric Cooperative said approximately 3,900 electric services are still out at this time.

Their crews battle strong East to West winds that are blowing trees into power lines. Outages are scattered from the Garden Peninsula to Drummond Island.

To report an outage, call 800-562-4953.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 11:30 a.m.

MARQUETTE — UPPCO has released an update on the power outages this morning. Approximately 6,000 UPPCO customers were without power in MArquette, Alger, Delta, Houghton and Keweenaw counties. The hardest hit areas include Gwin, Au Train, Calumet, Hancock and K.I. Sawyer.

UPPCO crews and employees are working to addresss and repair the outages. The company has made arrangements to use contracted resources to expedite restoration efforts whenever possible.

Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume that a downed line is energized.

The City of Marquette has suspended fall brush pickup until the weather permits. If there are any tree limb debris on your property, please place it on the curb and a crew will pick it up. No makeup will be set due to Fall Brush and Leaf pickup.

The Household Rubbish site is closed Tuesday due to high winds and flooding. Regular hours will resume next Tuesday, October 31st from 3:00 p.m. to 7:oo p.m.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 10:39 a.m.

ALGER COUNTY — The Alger County Sheriff’s Department announced they would advise residents to stay home due to wind damage. Power lines and trees have been downed, and there is severe damage overhead.

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 24th 10:05 a.m.

MARQUETTE — There are down power lines and fallen trees being reported throughout Marquette. The most recent down power line was reported at on the block of 244 Rock St.

The public is reminded to be cautious and report obstructions in the roadways and down power lines.

UPPER PENINSULA — Strong winds and heavy rain this morning have impacted electricity, school and road closures and telephone lines.

The Upper Peninsula Power Company’s outage map shows that over 3,000 customers are without power across Marquette, Alger, Houghton and Keweenaw counties as of 9:00 a.m. this morning. Marquette Board of Light and Power also has some reported outages. To report outages, contact your power company.

Several schools are closed due to the outages, including Marquette, Munising and Redeemer Lutheran.

In Marquette, Lakeshore Boulevard is closed to traffic from Hawley Street to Wright Street. The Marquette Police Department also said that Presque Isle will be closed as well.

Houghton County Sheriff’s regional dispatch was unable to receive telephone calls earlier today due to the weather. The problem has been temporarily dissolved and incoming calls are now working. If a call to 911 does not go through, call the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office at (906)482-0055.

Stay with ABC 10 for updates on closures and outages.