At least 1 killed, several injured as multiple tornadoes reported in southern Michigan

At least one person was killed and several others were injured when a series of tornadoes ripped through southern Michigan on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department confirmed one person died and several injuries were reported during a reported tornado near the village of Edwardsburg, just north of the Indiana state line. Multiple buildings, including homes and pole barns were either damaged or destroyed, numerous trees fell onto roads and hundreds in the immediate area were left without power, emergency management officials said.

Authorities said initial reports revealed damage began west of Edwardsburg along Conrad Road and continued east past M-62.

Footage taken roughly 30 miles away along a busy retail corridor in the city of Three Rivers showed debris being flung into the air as a funnel cloud moved through. Police in St. Joseph County, where the city is located, asked residents to stay away from the north end of the county “until further notice.”

At least 5,200 Indiana Michigan Power customers were without power in the Three Rivers area, the utility provider said.

Elsewhere in southern Michigan, dramatic video taken from across a lake showed a tornado shredding through a neighborhood, causing significant damage. Officials in that community, Union City, asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel while they assessed damage and cleared debris.

Following the storm outbreak, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center – a move she said will “coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response” and “ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests.”

“I want to thank all the first responders on the ground who reacted quickly to keep Michiganders safe,” Whitmer said on X.