Tornadoes and severe storms struck southern Michigan on Friday, killing at least four people and injuring more than a dozen others, while destroying homes and cutting power to hundreds of residents, according to local authorities.
Shortly after the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for the region, videos circulating on social media—reportedly from the towns of Three Rivers and Union City—appeared to show powerful tornadoes ripping roofs from buildings and hurling debris into the air.
Footage shared by local media showed extensive damage, including shattered buildings and vehicles, as well as fallen trees, utility poles and road signs.
Authorities said three people were killed and about a dozen others injured in Branch County, where Union City is located. The county sheriff’s office confirmed the casualties.
In neighboring Cass County, officials reported one additional death along with several injuries.
According to a statement posted on the Cass County website, numerous large structures—including homes and pole barns—suffered severe damage, ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction.
The storms also caused widespread power outages. Local officials said hundreds of residents were left without electricity after the storm damaged infrastructure.
Union City authorities said several utility poles were knocked down, transformers were damaged and long stretches of power lines were brought down.
“The north side of Union Lake experienced some of the most significant damage, with roughly two miles of power lines down in that area alone,” the city said in a post on its official Facebook page, adding that restoring electricity could take several days.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the state had activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor the situation and coordinate any needed assistance.
Clayton Cummins, a spokesperson for Michigan emergency services and police, told Reuters that the state is prepared to respond if additional resources are requested.
“So far we haven’t received any requests, and it appears that local emergency teams have been able to handle what has been a very devastating afternoon and evening in southwest Michigan,” Cummins said.