Multiple Tornadoes Hit MI, Whitmer Declares State Of Emergency

PORTAGE, MI — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency after multiple tornadoes touched down Tuesday afternoon in the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area in southwest Michigan.

The state of emergency is for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties, who bore the brunt of the damage from the severe storms late Tuesday.

Two tornadoes touched down in both Portage in Kalamazoo County and Dowagiac in Cass County, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency also said suspected tornadoes touched down in Centreville, Colon, Leonidas, Mendon, Wasepi, Sherwood and Comstock. The tornadoes were accompanied by large hail up to 2 inches in diameter, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornadoes left trails of wreckage, including scattering debris from buildings and homes, as well as downed trees and power lines across parts of southwest Michigan. More than 23,000 Consumer's Energy customers in the area were without power Wednesday morning.

Officials said roughly 50 people were trapped inside a FedEx facility in Portage as the severe storms ripped through. Though the facility was badly damaged, there were no injuries and everyone was safely evacuated, officials said.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller III said late Tuesday that roughly 20 people were taken to the hospital for injuries from blown glass and debris, but no fatalities were reported. He also said multiple homes in the area were destroyed, including a mobile home park in Kalamazoo.

"I’ve declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties after a severe storm system. We will work with emergency teams overnight to monitor the situation and coordinate resources for those affected. Michigan is strong and together we will rebuild," Whitmer said.

Officials and the National Weather Service were still assessing the damage Wednesday morning to determine exactly how many tornadoes touched downed in southwest Michigan.