Severe storms that hit the Midwest and subjected Michigan to its first tornado emergency destroyed homes, businesses and injured dozens, and forecasters warn that more severe weather conditions are ahead.
Tornadoes were first reported after dark Tuesday in parts of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, while parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri were also under a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service.
Crews are working to clean up a mobile home park that was destroyed by the storm in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said more than a dozen mobile homes in Pavilion Township were “completely destroyed.” At least 16 people were injured there, although their lives are not in danger, he added.
‘The cleanup efforts are tremendous. “We’re seeing homes all over this community that are completely gone, demolished,” Fuller said.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said more than a dozen mobile homes in Pavilion Township (pictured) were “completely destroyed.”
Houses were completely overturned and cars were destroyed by debris and trees carried by the storm.
Crews are working to clean up a mobile home park that was destroyed by the storm in Kalamazoo.
Houses were completely overturned and cars were destroyed by debris and trees carried by the storm.
A house where seven people lived “is totally at its peak,” he said. “They were able to self-rescue and get to safety and returned today.”
“We found houses on the road,” the sheriff said Tuesday night. ‘We found homes in neighbors’ houses. We found big trees in the houses.’
In southwest Michigan, two tornadoes struck the town of Portage and an adjacent community Tuesday night, destroying homes and commercial buildings, including a FedEx facility that was destroyed.
No serious injuries were immediately reported, but city officials said in a news release that the tornadoes left more than 20,000 people without power. Most of them will be without power until Wednesday night, city officials said.
At one point, about 50 people were trapped inside the FedEx facility due to downed power lines. But company spokeswoman Shannon Davis said Tuesday night that “all team members are safe and accounted for.”
Several homes and businesses were destroyed after a possible tornado touched down in Centerville on Tuesday, St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said. cnn.
Roofs were ripped off and homes were “completely” leveled by the storm, Bingaman said.
At least seven homes were destroyed in nearby Branch County, according to Emergency Management Director Tim Miner.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for four counties.
“My heart goes out to all those affected by tonight’s severe weather in southwest Michigan,” Whitmer said in a social media message. “State and local emergency teams are on the ground and working together to help Michiganders.”
National Weather Service crews were working Wednesday to assess storm damage in several counties in southwest Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to determine if tornadoes touched down in those areas, including the two reported Tuesday night in the city of Portage, said weather service meteorologist Mike Sutton. Grand Rapids Office.
Two reported tornadoes hit the town of Portage (pictured) and an adjacent community Tuesday night, destroying homes and commercial buildings.
A resident walks past uprooted trees near damaged businesses and buildings after a tornado hit the Portage area.
Businesses, buildings severely damaged after tornado hits Portage area
He said the Grand Rapids office had received a total of 11 tornado reports from storm spotters, emergency managers and the public from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night, but as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, there had been no confirmed no tornado landings.
Sutton said it could be a couple of days before storm surveys are completed and emphasized that some of the tornado reports could be duplicate reports relayed by people who saw the same storm.
‘It is very possible that these are multiple reports of the same tornado. The actual number of tornadoes may be lower depending on what they find when they do studies,” he said.
Tuesday’s storms came a day after parts of the central United States were hit by heavy rain, strong winds, hail and tornadoes. Both the Plains and the Midwest have been hit by tornadoes this spring.
According to the National Weather Service, numerous severe thunderstorms are forecast Wednesday from parts of the central valleys of Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee to the southern plains.
Tornadoes, very large or giant hail, and potentially damaging winds are possible.
Across the United States, the entire week is looking stormy. The Midwest and South are expected to bear the brunt of severe weather for the rest of the week, including in Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis and Cincinnati, cities home to more than 21 million people.
