DETROIT – Overnight storms caused significant power outages across Metro Detroit and made freeways impassable for Thursday’s morning commute.
More: Massive power outages hit Michigan, nearing historic 2017 wind storm totals
The nonstop rain and heavy winds caused power outages that knocked out pumps that were already overwhelmed.
Water filled both sides of I-75 between McNichols and Seven Mile roads Thursday morning. Other flooded roads included the Davison Freeway, I-696 and more.
DTE Energy held a press conference in Oak Park Thursday to discuss the power problems that knocked out pumps along the freeways.
Read: Massive power outages hit Michigan, nearing historic 2017 wind storm totals
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, the pumps stopped working after power was lost across Metro Detroit. Officials said their crews scrambled to hook up massive generators, but only had four-to-six on hand at any given time. Restarting the pumps is a long process that require a team of specially trained technicians and not all pump houses work the same.
“It’s not like we can just go to Home Depot and buy a generator and you pull it out a little trailer and you set it next to the building and you hook it up,” said Diane Cross, with MDOT. “It’s not like that. It’s much more complicated.”
In neighborhoods across Metro Detroit, residents are frustrated with dealing with more water in the streets less than a month since the last flood.
The Great Lakes Water Authority said none of their pumps failed and that its system is “prepared for currently forecasted storms.”
Thursday’s floods happened on the seventh anniversary of the devastating 2014 floods, that were considered to be a once-in-a-generation event.