Power companies brace for severe weather in northern Indiana

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Power companies are bracing for severe weather over northern Indiana.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says widespread damaging winds, a few tornadoes and large hail are expected across the region Wednesday.

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. says it's increasing staffing at its customer call center, scheduling extra work crews, postponing scheduled work that would require equipment to be out of service, and putting work crews in the field to respond more quickly to problems.

Indiana Michigan Power Co. already has called in extra crews to help get customers back online from storms Monday. About 3,000 of its customers in St. Joseph and LaPorte counties remained without power Wednesday afternoon.