Ice causes downed trees and powerlines in SE Wisconsin; We Energies working on restoration

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RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wednesday's ice storm created a dangerous situation in southeast Wisconsin.

Tens of thousands of We Energies customers lost power Wednesday and Thursday, as ice weighed down trees, and branches damaged powerlines.

Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties experienced the worst outages in the southeast region.

Hundreds of We Energies employees have been working to restore power, and plan to work through Friday.

We Energies said 85% of all outages are expected to be restored by Thursday night.

We Energies spokesperson Conway estimated 90% of outages to be restored by noon on Friday, and 100% by 5 p.m. Friday.

We Energies has requested mutual aid from Kentucky and Green Bay.

The company asks customers to report any outages, and to stay patient.

"If you don't see a crew in your neighborhood, it doesn't mean they're not working," Conway said.

View the We Energies interactive outage map here

Conway said much of the damage is from fallen trees.

"What is the most unusual thing is how much damage those falling branches and trees are doing to our equipment," Conway said. "That's something you see more in the summertime."

A mobile home neighborhood in Union Grove saw the damage this can cause, when an ice-covered tree fell on a home Wednesday night.

 "It sounded like a loud train. It was weird. Like, loud crackling," said Jolee Allen.

Allen and her dog were inside her home when a tree fell on her roof around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

"I couldn't see anything, because the lights were out. The power was out," Allen said, "I thought it was going to land on top of me."

Fortunately, Allen and her dog got out of the home safely, 

Racine county has released a list of warming centers for those still without power:

  • Town of Norway Hall - 6419 Heg Park Rd, Wind Lake 53185
  • Walmart Supercenter - 1901 Milwaukee Ave, Burlington 53105
  • Salvation Army - 1901 Washington Ave, Racine, WI 53403
  • Target - 5300 Durand Ave, Racine 53406
  • Cesar Chavez Community Center - 2221 Douglas Ave, Racine 53402
  • Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Community Center - 1134 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Racine, WI 53404
  • Humble Park Community Center - 2200 Blaine Avenue Raine, WI 53405
  • Ascension All Saints Hospital - 3801 Spring Street, Racine WI 53405
  • Walmart Supercenter - 3049 Oakes Rd, Sturtevant 53177
  • Malecki's Piggly Wiggly - 5201 Washington Ave, Racine 53406
  • Tyler-Domer Community Center - 2301 12th Street Racine, WI 53403
  • Dr. John Bryant Community Center - 601 21st Street Racine, WI 53403
  • Waterford Public Library - 101 N River Rd, Waterford 53185


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