UPDATE- Tue 6/29/21 6:01 a.m.:
GAINES TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) —
Storm survey crews have confirmed a sixth tornado in Michigan from Saturday’s severe weather outbreak. It was a small EF-0 that touched down in southern Kent County around 4:20 p.m.. The National Weather Service says the twister moved through a subdivision in Gaines Township and caused damage to around a dozen homes.
Meanwhile, people continue to clean up in other areas of the state where tornadoes struck. Sara Bear who lives near Lake Odessa says one of the Ionia County tornadoes destroyed a barn on her property that was built in 1882. She says many in the area loved it and will miss it and that some have stopped by just to help with clean up.
And as people affected by the storms figure out what to do, the Better Business Bureau is warning of scam artists who are trolling for disaster victims. The BBB’s Troy Baker says to be cautious of any insurance company calling or showing up making offers that don’t sound right and to seek out their own insurance companies for guidance.
ORIGINAL STORY- Mon 6/28/21 6:54 a.m.:
ODESSA TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — At least five tornadoes are confirmed in Michigan from a severe weather outbreak Saturday, three of them in West Michigan. The National Weather Service says two twisters touched down in Ionia County and one in Mecosta County. Ted Thompson’s home in Odessa Township was heavily damaged by one.
“I heard it coming across the field. It sounded like a big freight train. Just a big locomotive and all of sudden it just broke loose. I mean it was a matter of seconds at it was here.”
That tornado was an EF-1 with peak winds at around 90 miles per hour. The other two in West Michigan were categorized as an EF-1 and an EF-0.
Two other tornadoes confirmed in the state included an EF-0 in Clare County. The strongest tornado during the outbreak was an EF-2 with 120 m.p.h. winds in Huron County. It happened near the village of Port Austin and injured at least six people.
Although several tornado warnings were issued in southwest Michigan, particularly Calhoun and Eaton counties, none have been confirmed at this time.
Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency on Saturday, which currently is aimed at flooding problems in the Detroit area, but it could be updated to include other areas of the state struck by tornadoes, damaging winds, and flooding. She spoke to WOOD-TV on Sunday.
“The initial declaration cited Wayne County as the county (most affected), although we can of course amend that, and we plan to. We’re working with local governments to share the extent of the damage. It’s really all hands on deck and we’re working across state government to assess the damage.”
National Weather Service officials will continue to survey areas where tornado warnings were issued and could confirm more twisters in the coming days. As it sits, this was the biggest tornado outbreak in Michigan since 2016.
