While most members’ power has been restored following the March 28 ice storm, our work is far from over. We are now transitioning from the response phase to the next stage of recovery and investigation.
As part of this ongoing effort, our crews will soon begin cleaning up broken utility poles, damaged transformers, and other storm-related electric and fiber infrastructure waste. You may also notice us clearing fallen vegetation from rights-of-way in impacted areas.
This work is a critical part of our storm recovery, and we’re taking great care to ensure everything is documented properly and handled in full compliance with governmental regulations.
Please do not remove materials
For your safety, do not attempt to remove any damaged equipment or storm debris on your own. Some materials may still carry risk or require special handling. Our crews are trained to remove these safely and in accordance with required procedures.
What this means for you
- DO NOT REMOVE broken poles, damaged transformers, and other electric and fiber infrastructure waste.
- You’ll likely see crews working in various areas in the coming weeks.
- Cleanup will take time and will be handled in stages.
- If you notice debris that poses an immediate safety risk, please call us at 888-485-2537.
Debris disposal by county
We’ve gathered the latest updates from several of the counties we serve regarding the disposal of tree and storm debris that is NOT broken poles, damaged transformers, and other electric and fiber infrastructure waste.
Antrim County
Per Antrim County Emergency Services, efforts are being made to find areas for property owners to dispose of storm debris.
Check with your city or township office directly, as each community may have different plans in place.
Charlevoix County
Cleanup efforts are underway in many townships, but there is currently no county-wide drop-off site for storm debris.
- Hejka and Sons Construction is offering free wood drop-off. For details, call Brandon at 231-459-5065.
Check with your city or township office directly, as each community may have different plans in place.
Crawford County
AJD Forest Products, 4440 W. 4 Mile Road, Grayling, MI 49738
Open to Crawford County residents only. Residents are responsible for unloading their vehicles themselves, so they should bring help. Do not call AJD with questions, as this is a Crawford County function.
Emmet County
The Office of Emergency Management has provided a list of Debris Drop-off Locations and is working to identify an additional location in the southern portion of the County.
- Harbor Springs: 2101 E. Hathaway Road, 995 Hideaway Valley Road (Offield Family Viewlands)
- Alanson: 6681 Lora Bette Drive (Elbert Family Nature Preserve)
- Petoskey: 5151 Manthei Road (Northern Michigan Hardwoods)
- Emmet County Road Commission Property: Pleasantview and Munger Roads
- Pellston: 1161 Kaz Road (VanLockern Lakeside Nature Preserve)
- Mackinaw City: 1057 W. Central Ave. (Hathaway Family Preserve)
Otsego County
Northern Forestry Products in Vanderbilt, open seven days a week from dawn until dusk.
Otsego County Emergency Management is offering assistance to some community members who may be struggling to clean up after the ice storm. Please email [email protected] or text 989-858-2113 – be sure to include your name, age, and address.
State of Michigan
By declaring a state of emergency, Governor Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated areas.
We’re focused on supporting our members and communities through every phase of recovery. Whether you’re clearing downed trees, assessing damage to your property, or just figuring out where to start, here are a few key tools and resources to help guide your next steps.
The 2025 Northern Michigan Ice Storm website includes:
Get help with insurance claims, finding licensed contractors and disaster assistance for farmers, and more!
Not all sites are listed; see additional County-specific updates below.
Allows residents to report damage following disasters, and survey data is shared with local Emergency Management programs.
You can also access DNR updates, volunteer and donation information, News releases, and a power outage map.
We know many of you are still picking up the pieces from this historic storm, and we want to thank you again for your resilience, kindness, and support. Our team remains committed to serving you—through every phase of this journey.
Thank you for every you are doing.