Most people don’t know what goes on behind the scenes when a power blackout occurs. This informative video illustrates exactly how a real-life extreme weather event was handled by mid-continent transmission company ITC.

On April 26, 2009, high winds in Michigan blew down 40 utility poles, which then caused two major transmission lines to “trip out.” The video follows the power restoration process step-by-step and includes footage from inside the control room.

ITC is reportedly the largest independent electricity transmission company in the US, serving a combined peak load in excess of 25,000 megawatts through its regulated operating subsidiaries.

To watch another video about restoring power in the wake of the February 2011 ice storms that swept through Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, click here.