Michigan Hit by Severe Storms and Tornados, Leaving Destruction and Death in Their Wake
At least two tornados touched down in Michigan as part of severe storms powered by winds of up to 75 mph that downed trees, tore roofs off buildings, and killed five people. The storms have also left hundreds of thousands of customers without power, officials said.
The National Weather Service confirmed on Friday that an EF-1 tornado with winds of 90 mph crossed from Ingham County into the western edge of adjacent Livingston County on Thursday night. The tornado remained on the ground for a mile or less before weakening and lifting.
Another tornado was confirmed to have touched down west of Belleville. The tornado hit near or just south of the Wagner Homestead Farm and mainly blew off leaves and twigs, but then felled numerous trees further along its path. The tornado traveled around three miles before dissipating.
In addition to the tornados, the storms caused tragic accidents. In western Michigan, a 21-year-old woman and two girls, ages 1 and 3, died after two vehicles collided head-on during the rain. The sheriff’s office reported that one person died after a tree fell on a home in Lansing, the state capital.
In Ingham County, severe damage was reported along Interstate 96, with more than 25 vehicles severely damaged. One person was confirmed dead, and several others were severely injured.
Trees were uprooted, roofs collapsed, and many roads were closed due to fallen trees and power lines. Power outages affected approximately 460,000 customers in Michigan and about 193,000 in Ohio.
Residents recounted their experiences of the storm. Muqitu Berry from Southfield described a neighbor’s tree trunk crashing down across his driveway, knocking out power and leaving him unable to leave his home.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans declared a state of emergency in Michigan’s largest county, including Detroit, due to power outages, flooding, fallen trees, and power lines.
Residents were warned to avoid contact with rivers due to flooding. In Macomb County, stormwater and wastewater were discharged to Lake St. Clair through an emergency bypass system, sparing several thousand basements from flooding.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center to provide support to affected communities as they respond to the impacts of the flooding.
The severe storms and tornados in Michigan have added to the extreme weather events witnessed across the United States. Parts of the western U.S. have been deluged with rain from Tropical Storm Hilary, while the central U.S. experienced deadly sweltering heat. Hawaii and Washington state are battling catastrophic wildfires.