Severe thunderstorms bring hail and structural damage, with tornadoes hitting cities including Kalamazoo and Battle Creek
Tornadoes that hit Michigan on Tuesday evening ripped the roof off a FedEx building in Portage, partially collapsing the structure and trapping 50 people inside, Kalamazoo county authorities said. Elsewhere in the state, thousands of residents are without power and face a deluge of hail and tornado warnings amid severe thunderstorms.
“TAKE COVER NOW,” the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids warned in a post directed at Portage residents on their Facebook page.
Damage photos coming in out of Portage, MI pic.twitter.com/t9azc2ucUp— Sara Flynn (@SaraFlynnWX) May 7, 2024
First responders are trying to get people out but are impeded by downed power lines, said Kalamazoo emergency management.
FedEx said the company is monitoring the situation and issued a statement expressing concern. “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.
