One line worker was electrocuted on Saturday morning on Washington Island during storm clean-up efforts that Town Chairperson Hans Lux says will take weeks to complete after a tornado touched down on the island last Tuesday.
The National Weather Service confirmed on Tuesday that an EF-1 Tornado touched down on the island at 10:32 p.m., bringing with it 90-mile-per-hour winds for nearly two minutes.
The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. on Saturday as crews were cleaning up debris from last Tuesday’s storms that knocked out power on the island for the second time this year. Washington Island Police Officer Gary Schultz says there will be no further comment on the matter until OSHA reviews the incident.
As of Sunday night, crews shifted their focus to residents who live on Michigan Road after getting businesses and residents powered up on Green Tree Road, Town Line Road, Range Line Road, and Mountain Road. Lux says he is thankful for the men and women who helped the town get its power back, and the resiliency island residents have had to show once again.
Washington Island did file an emergency declaration with the county after April’s storm which also left the town without power for several days. Despite the clean-up efforts, Lux is hopeful it will not affect the island’s tourism economy.
