Whitmer declares state of emergency after 4 tornadoes hit southwest Michigan

→ Оригинал (без защиты от корпорастов) | Изображения из статьи: [1] [2]

(WNDU) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for several counties in southwestern Michigan after severe storms and four tornadoes caused significant damage Tuesday evening.

The declaration was issued for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties, where one tornado each touched down, according to our sister station WOOD-TV. It frees up state resources to help local authorities with clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

Kalamazoo County saw significant damage, as two tornadoes blitzed the city of Portage, destroying homes and commercial buildings — including a FedEx facility that was ripped apart.

At one point, about 50 people were trapped inside the FedEx facility because of downed power lines. But company spokesperson Shannon Davis said late Tuesday that "all team members are safe and accounted for."

FedEx trucks sit outside a damaged FedEx facility after a tornado in Portage, Mich., Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Brad Devereaux/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)(Brad Devereaux | AP)

Meanwhile, the Pavilion Estates mobile home park near Portage suffered heavy damage, as the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said around 15 to 17 homes were destroyed. Multiple injuries were reported as a result of Tuesday's storms, but none of them were considered life-threatening, according to our sister station WOOD-TV.

Closer to home in Cass County, residents of the Twin Lakes area are busy cleaning up the damage left behind by the storms. County commissioners have since declared a local state of emergency due to the widespread damage.

The National Weather Service was in southwest Michigan on Wednesday and Thursday to evaluate the strength of Tuesday's tornadoes.

The declaration was issued for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties.(WNDU)