(UNDATED) – Power restoration efforts are continuing in St. Joseph and Branch Counties following last week's storms.

The City of Sturgis Electric Department crews have been working to restore service to Sturgis electric customers since the storms hit the area. With the assistance of additional line crews, the City has restored power to all but 700 of their customers.

The City estimates that somewhere around 15 miles of power lines outside the City have been impacted by the storm, including over 40 downed power poles. Much of the damage related to ongoing outages is concentrated on or connected to the City's service line running to the hydro-electric dam north of Centreville. This line runs through mainly rural areas, including heavily-wooded and difficult terrain, slowing the ability of crews to make necessary repairs.

A large part of the significant damage appears to be in the areas between Schrader Road to the south and Banker Road to the North, between North Centreville Road to the east and Shimmel Road to the west.

Sturgis electric customers served from the Mintdale, Shimmel, Balk and Hydro substations may not have their power restored until later this week due to the damage. The City estimates that this area may currently include 400 to 500 customers. Crews will be restoring power to these substations and the customers they serve working from south to north.

Consumer's Energy is saying there are 4,437 customers in St. Joseph County, and 4,549 Branch County Customers that still don't have electricity. Consumers employees along with mutual aid crews have been working 16 hour shifts to get power restored.

Consumer's is saying most, if not all of their customers should have their power restored by late tonight.

Indiana Michigan Power has 86 customers in the Three Rivers area still without power. They should be back on line by later today.