Since late Monday evening, Wisconsin Public Service has restored power to more than 81,000 customers.
WPS spokesperson Matt Cullen says they continue to bring in additional crews to restore power. He says if the severe winds subside, they expect to restore the majority of customers in the Minocqua, Rhinelander and Eagle River areas sometime on Friday. Eagle River has been the hardest hit area in the Northwoods.
Emergency Management officials in both Vilas and Oneida County have issued locations that are open should people without power need to warm up. The Trigs stores in the Rhinelander and Minocqua areas are open all the time, as are the WalMart stores in those communities. Eagle River Memorial Hospital is also open as a warming station. In Lac du Flambeau, Lake of the Torches Casino is open, and the libraries are open during their routine hours, but are not open 24 hours.
Dawn Robinson of Oneida County Emergency Management says also look to help your neighbors...
"....check on your family, friends and neighbors. Maybe you can stay with a friend or a neighbor or maybe your neighbor needs some assistance and you can share with them the different facilities that are open for warming...."
A very strong winter storm over Hudson`s Bay will continue to produce strong winds across Wisconsin but will diminish into Thursday.
