Michigan utilities preparing for Hurricane Sandy

Michigan utilities are making their own preparations for Hurricane Sandy.

The storm is expected to strike the East Coast later today, but the hurricane's outer bands are being felt as far west as Michigan.

“Well, right now we’re monitoring the storm….and seeing how it might impact our southeast Michigan service area,” says Scott Simon, a DE Energy spokesman.

DTE has already freed up about a hundred contract linemen to help restore electric power in the Mid-Atlantic States that are expected to take the brunt of Hurricane Sandy.

Dan Bishop is a Consumers Energy spokesman.    He says Michigan electric companies are ready in case the weather starts knocking out power here.

“Not only might we have an impact from the east coast hurricane, but there’s another system coming down from Canada and the northwest that could impact on customer service in our service territory,” says Bishop.

A high wind advisory begins at 5pm in west Michigan and will last until Tuesday evening.