Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (2024)

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency in areas of Michigan due to the tornadoes that hit the area Tuesday.

"I’ve declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties after a severe storm system," Whitner shared on X. "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."

The National Weather Service issued the first tornado emergency on record for Michigan on Tuesday, as severe weather impacted the region.

Multiple tornado warnings were in effect for southeast Michigan Tuesday evening. A tornado emergency was issued for Union City -- marking the first tornado emergency for the state on record, going back to 1999.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (1)

The National Weather Service warned there was a "confirmed large and destructive tornado" over Union City at 6:11 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The mayor of Portage, Michigan, near Kalamazoo, said her city suffered "extensive damage to both residential and commercial properties" after two tornadoes went through the area. Power was down on Tuesday night in the area, with downed trees and wires hindering repairs, she said.

Photos showed major damage to a FedEx facility in Portage. The company's facility there sustained heavy damage, with at least 50 people inside, officials said. There were no reports of serious injuries, according to authorities, and a rep for FedEx confirmed late Tuesday night that all team members were "safe and accounted for."

Kalamazoo officials said the Pavilion Estates mobile home park sustained "extensive damage" in the storm.

MORE: How to shelter during a tornado if you don't have a basement

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Whitmer advised people to pay attention to the weather alerts.

"My heart goes out to all those affected by tonight’s severe weather in southwest Michigan. 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," she said in a statement on X.

After more than a dozen tornadoes were reported in the Plains overnight into Tuesday, the tornado threat moved into Ohio Valley and parts of the southern Great Lakes Tuesday afternoon and evening. Some 35 million Americans are in the storm zone, from Chicago to Nashville, Tennessee.

A tornado watch was issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky into Tuesday night. A few tornadoes, damaging gusts up to 70 mph and baseball-sized hail are likely.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged residents to prepare for the severe weather -- including "potentially significant tornadoes," flooding, hail and high winds -- expected to hit much of the state over the next few days.

"We have been through all of those and we have seen how deadly they can be," Beshear said during a press briefing Tuesday. "So we need everyone to take action now by making a plan to keep yourself and your family safe."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (2)

The latest tornado threat comes as at least 20 tornadoes were reported in seven states overnight into Tuesday.

The twisters were reported in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee.

One of the hardest-hit areas in the storm was Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, north of Tulsa. The National Weather Service in Tulsa found low-end EF4 damage near Barnsdall during the tornado survey process on Tuesday.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (3)

One person was killed and several injured in Barnsdall, which sustained "significant damage" due to the tornado, according to Barnsdall Mayor Johnny Kelley.

"We need a lot of prayers," Kelley told reporters during a press briefing following the tornado.

Some 60 to 70 homes in the small town were "totally destroyed," among approximately 350 destroyed statewide, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said.

Approximately 25 people were rescued following an initial search, Kelley said. One person remains unaccounted for as another search effort got underway Tuesday, he said.

The missing man was in his trailer home talking to his son on the phone just minutes before the tornado came through, according to Stitt. Police K-9 units are involved in the search, he said.

"We're just praying a miracle happens," Stitt told reporters during a press briefing Tuesday evening.

Stitt has declared a state of emergency for several counties in the state due to the severe weather.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (4)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (5)

The destructive tornado was the second to hit Barnsdall in recent weeks.

"It's a devastating blow to the people in the community," Kelley said. "It's going to be life-changing."

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, had issued the highest-possible severe weather risk alert for multiple intense, long-track tornadoes Monday afternoon and evening.

ABC News' Kenton Gewecke and Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes (2024)

FAQs

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes? ›

(CBS DETROIT

CBS DETROIT
WWJ-TV (channel 62), branded CBS Detroit, is a television station in Detroit, Michigan, United States, owned and operated by the CBS television network.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › WWJ-TV
) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties following a severe storm and tornadoes. Officials say the declaration allows for all state resources to be available with local response and recovery efforts in the areas.

Has Michigan ever had a tornado emergency? ›

The first-ever tornado emergency in Michigan was issued Tuesday, one of many called across the country in recent weeks as severe weather tears through states in the Plains and Midwest.

How many tornadoes occur in Michigan each year? ›

How many tornadoes usually occur in Michigan every year? An average of 16 tornadoes occur in Michigan each year. Since 1950, 243 persons have been killed due to tornadoes. During this same time, Michigan has experienced 950 tornadoes.

What is the difference between a tornado warning and a watch in Michigan? ›

Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states. Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

What month is tornado season in Michigan? ›

Tornadoes by Month

Tornado activity peaks in June here in Southeast Michigan. Most tornadoes occur between April and August. However, tornadoes have been recorded in every month but January and December.

Which state has never had a tornado? ›

Tornadoes have been documented in every U.S. state (not including the non-state territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico) at least once since 1950, although some regions and states are hit by tornadoes far more than others.

Has there ever been an F5 tornado in Michigan? ›

The last F5 tornado in Michigan was the Hudsonville-Standale tornado of April 3, 1956. It was debated in the U.S. Congress at the time whether recent atomic bomb testing in the upper atmosphere had caused tornadoes, including this one. Congressman James E. Van Zandt (R-Penn.)

Where is Tornado Alley in Michigan? ›

Not surprisingly, the greatest number of tornadoes occur in the Detroit and Flint areas. There appears to be a clear cutoff line from Muskegon to Saginaw to Port Huron, with points to the south much more susceptible to tornadoes than points to the north. This also corresponds with the tension zone across Michigan.

Has there ever been an F6? ›

After viewing the aerial photos of the storm damage in Xenia, Fujita officially rated the tornado as an F6. This was the second and last time that a tornado was rated as an F6. The other F6 tornado occurred in Lubbock, Texas in 1970.

When was the last tornado in Michigan in 2024? ›

0511 PM Tornado 1 NW Dowagiac 42.00N 86.12W 05/07/2024 Cass MI NWS Storm Survey An EF-1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 95 mph occurred in the early evening of May 7th in Cass County, MI. The tornado touched down in a field just north of the Dowagiac Municipal Airport.

Which state has the most tornadoes? ›

Texas leads the nation for the average number each year only because of its size. Surprisingly, when looking at how many tornadoes occur per fixed area then Florida leads followed by Kansas, and again surprisingly, Maryland.

What causes most deaths during a tornado? ›

Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado.

What is worse, a watch or a warning for a tornado? ›

Summing up: A tornado watch means get ready. A warning means move—now—to safety. Have a question about insurance? Call the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439 or visit www.tdi.texas.gov.

Has Michigan ever had a tornado in the winter? ›

Winter tornadoes are rare, with only about 5% of nearly 1,100 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2022 occurring from December through March, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Predictor Service. Confirmed tornadoes struck Calhoun and Genesee counties on Wednesday.

When was Michigan's last tornado? ›

"On May 7, 2024, severe weather struck the counties of Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, producing damaging winds, multiple witnessed and radar-observed tornadic activities, and four confirmed tornadoes," Corfman said.

What is the deadliest month for tornadoes? ›

What are the worst months for tornadoes? April, May and June are the most active months for tornadoes, due to the atmospheric conditions during that time of year, including an abundance of moisture in the air. Tornadoes are most often formed by supercell storms, the most violent type of thunderstorms.

Has Michigan ever had an F4 tornado? ›

According to the National Weather Service at Grand Rapids, “On April 2, 1977 a “supercell” thunderstorm produced two F4 tornadoes, one in Kalamazoo County where the town of Augusta was hit, and another in Eaton County that damaged and destroyed homes from near Bellevue to Eaton Rapids.

Has there ever been a natural disaster in Michigan? ›

In early June 1953, more than 100 people lost their lives in one of the deadliest tornado events in Michigan. The Flint-Beecher tornado was rated an EF5, the highest rating on the Fujita scale of damage.

How many times has a tornado emergency been issued? ›

To date, a total of 201 (296 unofficially) known tornado emergencies have been issued by the NWS through its local Weather Forecast Offices; all but 16 of these have resulted in a confirmed tornado, with the resulting tornadoes being responsible for a total of 554 fatalities.

What county in Michigan has had the most tornadoes? ›

Tornadoes in Michigan since 1950. From 1950 to 2012, the counties in Michigan that experienced the most tornado activity were: Genesee 41. Monroe 33.

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