After several months of mild weather, winter came and went like a pride of lions. The snow started to fall early Friday night, with several inches accumulating each hour.
Power failed by 8:30 in some places; others had light and heat until shortly after 11pm. The next morning, between 11-20 inches of snow had fallen in northern Manistee County. Downed tree limbs, broken glass and blocked roads were a common sight.
Laura Pesko describes the situation at and around her Onekama home on Saturday afternoon.
In Pleasanton Township (north side of Bear Lake) about 11 inches fell at this location by Saturday morning (picture rotated for your reading comfort)
More scenes from the Three Pines Gander office
The power line in front of this Norconk Road residence in Bear Lake was hanging low and sparking until crews arrived
Laura Pesko describes the situation at and around her Onekama home on Saturday afternoon.
Consumers Power crews work to repair lines on Norconk Road
Without power, Bear Lake's ATMs and gas stations could not provide cash, fuel or perishables
By Sunday, frustrations were high as single-digit temperatures were forecast. At the Bear Lake Bar, server Regina Farnsworth describes her hunt for shelter, following the March 2 storm.
No room at the Bella Vista Inn (Bear Lake)
The snow had stopped by Sunday, but clearing skies meant a drop in temperature
Meanwhile, Consumers Power crews continued to remove hanging branches interfering with the lines
The American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan and other service organizations did eventually open 3 shelters in Copemish, Parkdale and Kaleva, in addition to dozens of shelters in Benzie and other counties. Kevin Bavers, Executive Director of the Red Cross chapter, reported that nearly 500 meals had been served through and past the weekend, with volunteers from downstate arriving to relieve the initial group of 40 Red Cross volunteers.
Monday brought gradually increasing temperatures (in the mid 20s), restored power to the north and south sides of Bear Lake and telephone crews with generators to supply power to phone lines.
CenturyLink technicians deploy generators throughout Pleasanton Township and further north
Parts of Benzie County, but not all, were returning to normal by Tuesday morning, following an initial run on supplies. Benzonia resident Tania Arens found most of what she needed over the weekend, but some neighbors are still without utilities
Tuesday afternoon, many outages were still being reported in Brethren, Kaleva, Thompsonville, Honor and Lake Ann. Crews continued to repair several dozen long stretches of main and secondary power lines, as shelters remained open in Benzie County.
3/6/12 (7:01pm): Story updated to include Red Cross response, power line repair and minor corrections.
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