Potholes, Ice Storms and Wind: A Guide for Winter in Canton

Winter weather complicates our daily lives. Beyond snow clearing and slick roads, drivers must contend with potholes. Also, when temperatures drop, power outages stop being minor inconveniences and become potentially dangerous. Know who to call for help with resources you can use to address these issues.

Potholes

Potholes can be a significant problem, especially if they’re allowed to grow as they are prone to do during the winter. Dealing with them is primarily the responsibility of whoever owns the road; all we need to do is notify the proper organization, and they’ll be required to handle the repairs and logistics.

Canton is a township, not a city, so the local government does not maintain our community's 400 miles of roads. In Canton, 5% of our roads are owned by the State of Michigan, Wayne County owns 65%, and the remaining 30% are owned privately, mostly by homeowners' associations (HOAs).

Privately owned roads are the responsibility of the owners, so if there’s a problem in your neighborhood, you should contact your HOA.

Reporting a Pothole

Most of us will deal with the Wayne County Road Commission for county roads. You can report hazardous road conditions, including large potholes, malfunctioning traffic signals, and flooded roads, by calling 888-ROAD-CREW (888-762-3273) or online using this form.

To report problems on county roads outside of Wayne County, consult this list:

Macomb County Road Commission: Road maintenance requests, such as pothole repair, can reported to (586)463-8671. Requests can also be made online through their website.
Monroe County Road Commission: Service requests can be made through their website, and the Maintenance Division can be reached by calling 734-240-5102.
Oakland County Road Commission: Large potholes and emergencies can be reported by calling 877-858-4804. Non-emergencies can be sent in through their website.
Clair County Road Commission: Pothole repair requests can be made to City Hall by calling 810-329-7121 ext. 205. Include the location in the repair request.
Washtenaw County Road Commission: Potholes requiring immediate attention can be reported by calling 734-761-1500. Reports can be submitted on their website, or the WCRC Fix It app.

If you need to report a large pothole or other serious hazard on a road owned by the state, you can call MDOT at 888-296-4546 or fill out their Report a Pothole form. You may need to scroll down the page to see the fillable parts of the form. State-owned roads usually begin with M, I, or US but often have other names (e.g., M-153 is better known as Ford Road, and US-12 commonly goes by Michigan Avenue).

Pothole Damage

Reporting a pothole is one thing, but what if your vehicle was damaged by one? You may be eligible for some compensation from the road owner.

For state-owned roads, you’ll submit claims to MDOT using the form and procedure outlined on their damage claim webpage, though they advise that most claims are denied and anything over $1,000 of damages will require a lawsuit.

You'll need to contact the relevant county road commission for damage caused by potholes or similar hazards on county roads. Use the website links or phone numbers listed above depending on which county the damage occurred in, though for Wayne County, the online form to submit a claim is on the same page as the hazard report function.

Power Outages

Power outages can be a serious problem at any time of year, but they can be especially dangerous in the winter. If a home’s heating system requires electricity, being without power also means being without heat, which can have serious—or even deadly—consequences.

The first step in restoring power in our region is contacting DTE to report the outage. They have an online form; if you cannot access the internet, you can call their toll-free number: 800-477-4747.

Even if others have already reported the outage, more reports help them gauge the severity of the problem and prioritize their response. You can also check for updates on estimated repair times.

Staying Warm

With power restoration underway, consider your best options for keeping warm. If you have an emergency generator, set it up outdoors and use it wisely to get you through a crisis. Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can be used but take extra care if you don’t use them regularly. Consider other options if you aren’t sure how recently the chimney has been cleaned.

Older adults and families with young babies without heat should consider staying with relatives until the situation is resolved. In extreme conditions, you may need to use a warming center. Wayne County maintains a list of them on this webpage, and more can be found at the following links for other counties and cities:

Try these FEMA, Red Cross, and DTE lists for more power outage preparedness tips. A little preparation can go a long way when an emergency strikes; take some steps and make a plan so you can rest easy and enjoy all the fun things about winter. If you need ideas on wintertime fun, check out one of these other posts: