Power outages affect tens of thousands across Milwaukee County

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- More than 70,000 people across Milwaukee and Waukesha County were affected by power outages on Saturday night. 

As temperatures continue to dip across the state, City of Milwaukee officials are urging people to check on their neighbors. 

“Touch base with your friends, touch base with your family members, touch base with your neighbors," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. 

We Energies says it's reached to contractors from neighboring states including Indiana and Minnesota for help. 

"We are throwing lots and lots of people and resources at this, but it really just takes time," said Brendan Conway, a spokesperson for We Energies. 

In the meantime, We Energies says make sure all mobile devices are charged and keep plenty of food, water, and medical items on hand. If you are experiencing an outage, report it. 

“If you see wires hanging down, you see sparking and arcing, call 9-1-1," said Milwaukee's Fire Chief Aaron Lipski.

During an outage, people are recommended to layer up, unplug appliances, and use a generator if you have one. If the temperature is too cold, seek shelter. People can dial 2-1-1 or visit their website for a list of warming centers in your area. 

“We still have a deep freeze coming that will cause more complications," said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke. 

We Energies says despite the cold -- it is working to make sure power is restored across Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. 

“We’ve got a small army of crews working right now to restore our customers as safely and as quickly as we can," said Dave Megna, Vice President of Wisconsin Field Operations at We Energies.