SHAWANO, WI- Residents across Shawano are experiencing widespread power outages as freezing rain and ice continue to impact the area. According to Bruce Gomm, General Manager of Shawano Municipal Utilities, the outages are primarily being caused by ice-laden tree branches falling onto power lines throughout Shawano.
Gomm confirmed the outages are the result of ice accumulating on trees and infrastructure during the ongoing storm.
“Most outages happen when tree branches get weighted down by the ice, break off, and take out our power lines,” Gomm explained.
Outages Reported Citywide
The power disruptions are not limited to a single location. Reports of outages have stretched across the entire city, including along East Green Bay Street, Main Street, and surrounding neighborhoods. Traffic lights and homes in multiple areas have been affected.
Utility crews have been working continuously to restore service, but the ongoing precipitation is creating a challenging situation.
“As soon as we get one fixed, another one happens,” Gomm said. “We’re just keeping up with the outages as they occur.”
Some Restorations May Take Longer
While crews are making steady progress restoring power to larger areas, some residents may face longer wait times. Gomm noted that individual home service lines pulled down in backyards often require repairs by a licensed electrician before utility crews can safely reconnect power.
For residents experiencing isolated outages, restoration may take additional time compared to larger neighborhood outages.
Continued Ice Means Continued Risk
With freezing rain and ice still falling, the risk of additional outages remains high.
“As long as it keeps icing like this, there’s a chance more incidents will occur,” Gomm said.
Shawano Municipal Utilities crews will continue responding to outages as conditions allow and are urging residents to remain patient as restoration efforts continue throughout the storm.
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