Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center following severe weather across southwest Michigan on Friday afternoon.
In a post on X, Whitmer said: “Tonight, I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan. By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests.”
Significant wind damage, possible tornadoes and injuries were reported in multiple southwest Michigan counties, including Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph, the statement from the Michigan State Police said.
The sheriffs in Branch and Cass counties reported four deaths Friday night that were blamed on the powerful storm.
The center was activated at 6 p.m. MSP/Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division officials are on the scene with local emergency management officials and supporting local emergency operation centers, the statement said.
Tornadoes ripped through parts of southwest Michigan Friday afternoon, destroying buildings, leveling trees, and knocking out power.
Social media users shared a video of a twister causing damage in the Three Rivers area, including ripping the roof off a Menards store, pulling apart a storage unit and lifting cars in the parking lot of a strip mall along US-131.
Tornadoes were also spotted in the areas of Edwardsburg and Juno Lake in Cass County around 3:15 p.m., as well as Union Lake and Union City in Branch County shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to NWS.
Residents in the Jackson area were urged to take cover as the storm system that produced the twisters continues to head northeast.
The storm, moving northeast at 40 mph, is capable of producing winds up to 60 mph and tornadoes. NWS said the storm system produced tornadoes and caused damage in the Three Rivers area of St. Joseph County.
jchambers@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Whitmer activates emergency center after tornado hits southwest Michigan
Reporting by Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
