PORTAGE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Severe thunderstorms and at least three tornados ripped through southwest Michigan and Kalamazoo County on Tuesday night, damaging homes and businesses and leaving a path of devastation in its wake.
The National Weather Service is on its way to the area to assess the full extent of the damage on Wednesday morning. It could take days before all the damage is fully assessed.
MORE NEWS: Train Crash Kills One in Kalamazoo
Early reports indicate the Portage area in Kalamazoo County and Centreville in St. Joseph County bore the brunt of the damage. No deaths are reported but officials mentioned an upwards of two dozen minor injuries. Video shows a leveled FedEx building in Kalamazoo.
The City of Portage set up two shelters for those displaced by the tornadoes:
First Assembly of God, 555 Oakland Drive — 100-person capacity
Radiant Church, 995 Romence Road — 100-person capacity
Anyone who needs assistance can call 1.800.RED.CROSS.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to call 269.488.8911 for non-emergency calls and 211 for shelter and human service resources. Portage residents should call 269.329.4444 for city service information, including brush pickup and clean-up assistance.
Centreville and Portage school districts are closed on Wednesday.
MORE NEWS: Bus Service Adds More Stops Between Detroit and Mt. Pleasant
In addition, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties. The declaration frees up state resources to help local authorities with clean-up and rebuilding efforts.
The Consumers Energy outage map shows more than 23,000 customers without power across Michigan Wednesday morning. They remind people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines. Call 911 and Consumers Energy at 800.477.5050 when spotting a downed line.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.