Over 100,000 residents across northern Michigan are experiencing power outages, due to recent ice storms.
Five counties have more than 50% of utility customers in the dark, including Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Alcona and Alpena counties, as of Tuesday afternoon.
Missaukee County is experiencing a 82.98% outage, with 8,928 residents without power, as of Tuesday afternoon. There are two warming centers open in the area there for residents, the Salvation Army and the YMCA in Cadillac.
"Please avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of any downed power lines while crews work to clear roads and restore services," the Missaukee County Sheriff's Office's said on Facebook.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Roscommon County had 92.94% of utility customer without power, or 22,456 residents. There are eight warming centers open in the county for people in need, according to the Roscommon County Emergency Management Facebook page.
Lake Township Fire Department, Gerrish Township Fire and EMS, Richfield Township Fire and EMS, Denton Township EMS, Fred's of Roscommon, Little Bucks and Bobcats Daycare, Lyon Township Fire and EMS and Gerrish Township Police Department.
Ogemaw County has five warming centers open for residents from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mills Township Chamber of Commerce, Rose City Community Center, Rose Township Hall, Clear Lake Fire Department and Goodar Township Fire Department.
Alcona County has seven warming centers for residents without power and in need of shelter.
The available centers are: South Shore Fire Hall, Caledonia Township Hall, Gustin Township Hall, Barton City Fire Hall, Greenbush Fire Hall, Mikado Civic Center and Mitchell Township Hall.
The Mitchell Township Hall has bathrooms, but no kitchen available. Residents are also open to visit Plainfield Township Hall and Sand Lake Community Center.
"Please use caution if driving to a warming center as we still have an extreme number of downed trees and powerlines," the Alcona County 911 Central Dispatch said in a statement.
There is a warming shelter at the Alpena County Fairgrounds. County officials there have also released a wellness check request form for family and friends who have not been able to get in contact with people.
"You fill out the form and then the form submits, and central dispatch sends the appropriate agency for the jurisdiction where the residence is," Kim Elkies, director of Alpena County Central Dispatch, said.
She said the program took place during the historic ice storm last year, but dispatch went door to door. This year, they haven't needed to go door to door yet.
"That's the only thing that we haven't done yet this year because we're only a couple of days in," Elkies said. "Last year... we had neighborhoods without power for a month."
MyMichigan Health in Alpena has oxygen refill stations open for area emergency personnel and community members.
The oxygen trailer is located at the MyMichigan Alpena campus and is being run by staff from other MyMichigan clinics in the region that are closed down due to power outages.
"It's going to save lives," said Austin Conway, MyMichigan Health emergency manager, said. "People need oxygen to live."
He said the trailer will be open until Friday. Depending on demand, the trailer may be open longer.
