Power line repairs continue after Sunday's cyclone

(FOX 2) - Sister Margaret Hughes has been wearing her coat and hat all day in her Corktown home Monday.

"I've never experienced lights out like that," she said. 

FOX 2: "What time did your power go out last night?"

"I don't remember - it was after I went to bed," Sr. Hughes said, adding she woke up in the cold with no lights.

She wasn't alone for a number of people here in Corktown - some parts of their houses had power and some didn't.

"First there was almost nothing," said Patrick Kelliher.

Winds gusted on Sunday between 40 and 60 miles per hour. At one point DTE Energy had more than a thousand power lines down across the region with 160,000 customers losing power. For Consumers Energy - that number was 116,000 across the state.

"It was very difficult yesterday at times to even put bucket trucks up in the air with the high wind gusts," said Debra Dodd of Consumers. "But we do have contractors in from three different states helping us."

Monday's weather was still windy but crews were able to work on all those broken poles and downed power lines. Given the force of those winds, the utilities had expected far more people to be without power.

"We had anticipated several hundred thousand out, so we were very grateful," Dodd said. "We're working 16 hour days and those linemen and women are unsung heroes in my opinion - they do great work."

CLICK HERE for a DTE Energy Outage map

Back in Corktown - residents grateful as well - to have power restored.

"You appreciate what you just take for granted," Sr. Hughes said.