Tornadoes struck southern Michigan on Friday, killing at least four people and injuring more than a dozen others. The storms caused significant property damage and left hundreds without power in Branch and Cass counties.
Key Takeaways
Tornadoes struck southern Michigan on Friday, killing at least four people and injuring more than a dozen others across Branch and Cass counties. The storms caused significant property damage and left hundreds without power.
- Tornadoes killed four people in rural Michigan
- More than a dozen injured across two counties
- Significant structural damage reported including destroyed homes and downed power lines
- Governor activated State Emergency Operations Center to monitor situation
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for the area before the storm hit. Videos posted to social media showed massive whirlwinds tearing roofs off buildings and lifting debris into the air in Three Rivers and Union City, according to multiple reports.
In Branch County, three fatalities and a dozen injuries were reported by local authorities. One person was killed and several others injured in Cass County. The damage included destroyed homes, pole barns, and downed utility poles across both counties.
The storms caused extensive power outages affecting hundreds of residents. Union City's official Facebook page reported multiple utility poles down, damaged transformers, and long stretches of power lines on the ground with restoration potentially taking several days.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated a State Emergency Operations Center to monitor the situation. According to Clayton Cummins, spokesperson for Michigan emergency services and police, local response efforts have been addressing what's been described as a devastating afternoon and evening in southwest Michigan.
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