Photo by Dave Roth • Storms with high winds ripped through Tuscola County on Sunday evening and Monday, causing damage such as this tree which has broken and fallen on a home in Vassar.
By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
THUMB AREA — Although winter doesn’t officially start for another month, Mother Nature is already causing problems.
Sunday’s storm knocked out power to thousands of people throughout the state from high winds – some reported at nearly 70 mph. Some won’t have power restored until the weekend.
Besides bringing down power lines, the storm brought down trees and branches on roadways and homes.
From 3 p.m., Sunday, to 8 a.m., Monday, dispatch received 125 “storm-related calls,” said Tuscola County Central Dispatch Director Bob Klenk.
According to Klenk there were: 49 reports of traffic hazards, 44 calls for lines down, eight fires related to down lines, 12 security alarms were set off because there was no power, seven property-damage reports from fallen objects – mainly tree limbs, two traffic lights weren’t operational, and there was one medical call for someone on oxygen was out.
Plus, the storm took down the center’s Internet along with LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) for awhile. Power in downtown Caro was knocked out Monday afternoon and restored later that night.