Indiana Michigan Power has its trucks all gassed up and crews ready to roll to respond to power outages caused by the freezing rain in Southwest Michigan starting tonight.

I&M spokesperson Schnee Doyle tells us ice on power lines can really weigh them down.

“Ice accumulations over a quarter inch can weigh down trees power lines and potentially cause power outages,” Doyle said. “So with that, we have a storm response team that monitors the weather forecast and any potential impacts specifically related to our electrical equipment.”

Doyle says everyone should take steps to be ready for outages by fully charging their devices, having flashlights and batteries, and having an emergency kit ready to go. She tells us ice a quarter of an inch or thicker can increase the weight of a tree branch by 30 times, while ice of a half inch can increase the weight of power lines by 500 pounds.

Doyle also advises everyone not to drive if there’s ice on the road because that can lead to power poles being broken when vehicles hit them.