Minnesota Power Assessing Damage

Calling in additional resources in the wake of heavy storm damage

Duluth, Minn. — Minnesota Power is conducting aerial assessments of its infrastructure following heavy storm damage across its service territory Thursday morning. Once the assessment is complete, more information
about estimated restoration schedules will be known. As of Thursday morning, about 36,000 customers are estimated to be without power, including customers in Duluth, Cloquet, and the Brainerd Lakes area.
Among the hardest-hit areas is the city of Duluth where an estimated one-third of the city’s 65,000 customer are without power.  An estimated 100 power poles were broken by trees brought down by the storm and will need to be replaced. The affected area is a 10-mile swath from Island Lake to Lake Superior in the eastern
part of Duluth.
Restoration efforts will focus first on the transmission system before outages to the distribution system, which feeds residential and business customers, are addressed.  Removing trees and downed power lines from public roadways will be the first priority in coordination with St. Louis County and the City of Duluth.
All line crews have been called in to assist along with 15 tree removal crews.

The company has enacted its emergency response plan and will call on mutual aid to bring in additional line workers from utilities across the state to assist with restoration efforts. 

Some customers in Duluth and the surrounding area may experience multiday outages and should prepare accordingly.  Excessive heat watches and warnings are in effect and customers should take care to remain safe.

Tips include:

• Close shades
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Home basements may be cooler
• Visit friends who have power
• Look after neighbors who may be susceptible to the heat

Customers are strongly warned to stay away from downed power lines and to expect the lines are energized.
Energized lines pose an extreme hazard. Keep pets and children away from those areas. Do not attempt to
remove trees on public property or roadways as many trees are entangled with downed power lines.
For more outage updates and information go to www.mnpower.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.