UPDATE: Crews Restoring Power and Clearing Storm-Hit Neighborhoods

The effects of Saturday night’s severe storm are still being felt across much of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, 4,563 customers were still listed without power. DTE Energy officials expect to have 90 percent of power outages restored by Monday night.

There has been a shortage of DTE crews on the scene, due to many being sent to the east coast to help with Hurricane Irene’s recent damage, said DTE spokesman Scott Simons.

Simons said those crews are now on their way back to the area and the DTE is doing all they can in the meantime, including calling in additional workers.

Furthermore, crews have been out all day cleaning up around the city and will continue to work until dusk, returning again Monday morning. City Manager April McGrath said most of the street debris has been removed, and crews will work to clear the damage from homes as quickly as possible.

However, a number of residents still have large tree trunks lying across their yards, some smashed through homes and parked cars.

Many people took to the Ferndale Patch Facebook and Twitter pages to share stories and photos of how their neighborhood has been affected.

"Cambridge west of Pinecrest/Ridge Road looks horrible," resident Keith Chartrau said. "My street, West Drayton between Livernois and Pinecrest, is now reopened after the City of Ferndale brought in heavy equipment to remove a giant tree that fell blocking the street mid-block."

"On West Leroy near Pinecrest, some of our gutters flew off as well as the awning on our front porch, but other than that we just have some larger branches in our yard," resident Jessica Melnik-Gauvreau said. "A 35-foot tree was ripped out by the roots and is lying in our next door neighbor's yard!"

Most businesses and restaurants in the Ferndale area do have power and will operate with normal weekend and holiday hours. 

Despite this widespread damage, the city has once again come together to ensure a quick turnover.

"I’ve only lived in Ferndale since June," resident Nicole Olkowski said. "The thing that impressed me is how all of my neighbors came together and were so helpful. I didn't realize what a tight-knit neighborhood this was until last night."

The is reminding everyone to stay away from downed wires as crews work to clear them.

“There is a lot to clean up but as usual, Ferndale residents pitch in and make the best of it and we are very impressed with everyone’s willingness to help and be patient,” Mayor Dave Coulter said. “It’s going to take a little time to get everybody restored and get all the debris cleaned up but people have been great.”