Three tornadoes rip through lower Michigan, cause damage

Portage — At least three tornadoes were reported in Michigan on Tuesday night, one sweeping through parts of St. Joseph County and two hitting Kalamazoo County, knocking down trees and power lines, and scattering debris from buildings and homes, according to the National Weather Service.

The St. Joseph County tornado struck Mendon and Leonidas; the communities of Comstock and Portage were hit in Kalamazoo County, according to NWS storm reports. A tornado first touched down in Portage around 6 p.m. near eastbound Centre Street at Shaver Road, first responders reported, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. The tornado left scattered building debris and powerlines down, the Sheriff's Office said.

At a news conference late Tuesday, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller III said up to 20 people reportedly were hospitalized for injuries from blown glass and debris. No fatalities were reported, he said. Twisters produced the most damage in a mobile home park in Pavilion Township. Texas Charter Township also was hit, the sheriff said.

"In all, we think there's about 176 homes throughout the mobile home community that have damage, all the way from windows gone, doors gone, siding off, and destroyed," Fuller said. 

Fuller said Portage police were investigating damage to the FedEx facility on Portage Road. He could not confirm if there were injuries inside the facility or if people remained trapped in the building.

Mayor Patricia Randall said she declared a state of emergency to secure resources from the state and federal governments in a news release Tuesday night.

"We have significant damage, including damage to residential and commercial buildings, trees down across many roads in the city, and several reports of gas leaks," she said. "The hardest hit area is bound by Centre Avenue, Oakland Drive, Schuring Road and Westnedge Avenue."

There were no reports of serious injuries but several people were displaced, and two Salvation Army shelters have been set up, according to the release. Social media posts showed buildings in Portage with heavy damage.

Jon Johnson said he spotted a car overturned with air bags deployed in front of his home on East Milham Avenue in Portage after a tornado swept through his neighborhood. Johnson, 51, and another person punched out the windshield and pulled a senior citizen from the vehicle. 

Among damaged buildings was the FedEx facility at 6701 Portage Road. The front of the building's center was destroyed; emergency vehicles were on the site Tuesday night, including an ambulance.

"Our thoughts are with those affected by the tornado in Portage, Michigan, and we are grateful there were no serious injuries resulting from the damage to our facility at 6701 Portage Road," said FedEx spokeswoman Shannon Davis. "We continue to assess the damage, and we are implementing contingency plans to lessen any potential impacts on service. Customers with questions about their shipments can check fedex.com for updates."

Two trained spotters reported another tornado in Portage at 7:18 p.m. and a tornado was reported nearby in Comstock at 7:22 p.m., according to the weather service storm reports. A tornado also was reported in Mendon at 5:50 p.m. and Leonidas at 6 p.m., according to the reports.

Tree damage was reported in Leonidas, and trees 3 feet in diameter were reported down in northeast Portage, the weather service said. More downed large trees and power lines, as well as scattered shingles, were reported in west Portage. There also were reports of large hail, ranging from 1.5 inches to 4 inches, in Portage, parts of St. Joseph County and Union City, according to the weather service.

Steven Burnett was making dinner when he received alerts that a tornado touched down near his home on Meredith Street. His wife, children, brother and sister-in-law, their children and his mother-in-law dashed to a small bathroom in the basement and prayed. 

"It was really calm when it started, then we heard the wind and the whole entire house just shook," Burnett, 35, said. "Two whole families were crammed in a bathroom in the basement; we all fit and we all held hands as my daughter and nephew started praying ... It made me feel calmer."

When he took stock after the storm, he found a tree had fallen on his home and vehicles.

Nearby, on East Milham Avenue, trampolines hung in trees and roofing material littered the road and yards as bulldozers and Consumers Energy crews worked alongside the Portage Public Works Department to clear roads and shut off gas. 

Spencer White, 24, and his 22-year-old brother watched as the storm raised his neighbor's trampoline and launched it into trees. 

"I was standing at the back porch — and winds, probably about 70 mph — then, I saw the neighbor's trampoline go up over the house, and that's when me and my brother ran for the cellar and started clearing it out so we could get in," White said. 

Consumers Energy reported power outages affecting 25,145 customers at 10:30 p.m. The outages were centered in Portage and several parts of St. Joseph County, which is south of Kalamazoo and borders Indiana. Consumers estimates that most people in the Portage will have power restored by 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the city.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties, and urged residents to stay safe and follow the instructions of emergency officials.

"My heart goes out to all those affected by tonight’s severe weather in southwest Michigan," Whitmer said. "Emergency teams are on the ground and working to assist Michiganders. I encourage everyone to continue monitoring severe weather alerts and follow the advice of emergency officials."

National Weather Service meteorologist Nathan Marsili said a twister touched down in central St. Joseph County and traveled to the northeast part of the county between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The tornado was confirmed by the weather service using radar and spotters, Marsili said. The tornado’s path passed just north of Centreville to southeast of Mendon and Leonidas.

Marsili said there are several reports of debris on roads and damage to buildings.

Tornado warnings were issued after 5 p.m. and remained in effect until around 7 p.m. Tuesday for southeast Van Buren, central Kalamazoo and south central Calhoun counties after an "extremely dangerous tornado" was located on radar, the National Weather Service said.

"This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!" the weather service said at 5:49 p.m. A "large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly tornado is developing," located about 6 miles west of Portage moving northeast at 45 mph.

Storm chaser Ryan Harriot from the Village of Britton in Lenawee County, started following storm reports, first to Coldwater and then west near Schoolcraft. From there, he and his friend followed a storm to Portage and saw a tornado at 6:05 p.m.

"I've been chasing storms for a decade and witnessed many tornadoes, but this one was visibly one of the widest I've seen," said Harriot, 26. "It was probably 1,000 to 2,000 yards or a quarter-mile wide.  It disappeared out of view and we tried to follow it but came across a damage we couldn't maneuver through."

Harriot said he could see a FedEx facility that had the heaviest damage. 

"There was a lot of tree damage around the building and it was obvious that the building was the most impacted, Harriot said. "We tried to get closer but we couldn't move with the damage and other people that came outside gawking at the scene," he said. 

High winds and hail had been expected along with a risk of tornadoes, but the weather service Tuesday evening began issuing warnings for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, saying radar indicated rotation and then warned of "extremely dangerous" tornadoes, and with them a swift turn in the weather.

"To repeat, a tornado is on the ground," the weather service reported near 5:30 p.m. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris."

For Calhoun County, before the twister struck, the weather service warned: "You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter."

The weather service warned mobile homes would be destroyed and "considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible."

In central Kalamazoo County, a warning was in effect until 7 p.m. after a confirmed "large and extremely dangerous tornado" was near Kalamazoo, moving northeast at 35 mph. Weather spotters also indicated a tornado had occurred near Portage, the weather service reported Tuesday evening.

Elsewhere, tornado watches were in effect Tuesday night for Washtenaw, Lenawee and Monroe counties in southeast Michigan.

The extreme weather that hit Michigan came after a tornado swept through an Oklahoma town Monday night and killed one person.

Temperatures will wane into Thursday, with projected highs of 62 in those cities as a cold front enters the area Wednesday night, according to NWS Detroit.

Staff Writer Sarah Rahal contributed.