Tornadoes, straight-line winds and relentless rain have hit Wisconsin hard this week — and Mother Nature isn’t finished yet. We Energies crews have been working nonstop to ensure customers have the energy they depend on. Now the company is preparing for more severe weather and monitoring flooding concerns into the weekend.

Massive restoration effort

Since early Tuesday morning, We Energies has restored power to nearly 100,000 customers in southeast Wisconsin after tornadoes and 70 mph wind gusts toppled trees, downed power lines, snapped poles and caused widespread outages.

The company’s employees, contractors and mutual aid crews from across Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota have been working 16-hour shifts around the clock to turn the lights back on for every last customer.

More storms possible

The National Weather Service has issued a warning for additional severe weather in Wisconsin from Friday evening into early Saturday. They are forecasting thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, flooding and potentially isolated tornadoes.

We Energies is closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to be prepared if this weather system causes new power outages.

Flooding concerns

Flooding is a concern in several areas across Wisconsin. In the Fox Valley, We Energies is working closely with emergency management officials in communities that are already under mandatory evacuation orders.

In Shiocton and New London, crews are temporarily disconnecting natural gas service to homes and businesses to keep customers safe and to prevent longer-term damage to the distribution system. We Energies is reaching out to affected customers directly.

In southeast Wisconsin, natural gas crews are proactively inspecting equipment in communities previously affected by floods.

Crews are prepared to respond if unsafe conditions occur in other areas.

What you can do if your home is flooded

There are several safety precautions to follow if floodwater enters your home.

  • If you see or suspect an electric safety hazard, contact We Energies to have your electric service temporarily disconnected.
  • Always remove floodwater using a gas-powered water pump outside your home, or an electric pump connected to an outside line.
  • A qualified contractor must inspect any appliances that have been in floodwater to verify they are safe before We Energies restores natural gas or electric service.