Severe weather that has been uprooting the Plains states for weeks turned its attention to Michigan on Tuesday, trapping workers and destroying a mobile home park, officials said.
Portage Mayor Patricia M. Randall said in a statement that her city was hit by two tornadoes Tuesday, with no injuries or deaths reported so far.
One of the vortices ripped off the side of a massive FedEx facility, trapping about 50 workers as first responders hoped to clear live electrical wires blocking their safe exit, the county spokesperson said by email. Kalamazoo, Taylor Koopman.
“The FedEx building in Portage sustained significant damage and is still an active scene,” she said.
A tornado destroyed entire residences at Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park in Kalamazoo County, Koopman said. Rescue teams were on scene searching for survivors and those who needed temporary shelter, set up at the Portage Senior Center, she said.
Residents have been asked to remain on site while first responders resolve the situation.
“We have multiple scenes across the county and heavy damage,” Koopman said. “There are several reports of power outages, downed wires and debris on the roads. We are asking people to stay off the road if they can.”
More than 32,000 Michigan utility customers were without power Tuesday evening, according to Utility Tracker. PowerOutage.us.
Images of a strip mall hair salon in Portage showed its facade torn off to reveal its interior.
“Due to downed power lines and trees and possible gas leaks, we urge residents to stay home so first responders can reach those who need help,” Randall said.
The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado emergency declaration Tuesday afternoon for an area including Union City, southwest of Portage.
A weather service meteorologist said a tornado and very likely one or two others were all but confirmed Tuesday evening, although the service usually waits until the next day to send trained teams to the sites of possible tornadoes for confirmation.
The extreme weather since mid-April has been the result of waves of cold low-pressure storms moving eastward from the Pacific Northwest and colliding with warmer climates in states near the Gulf Coast. The air collision produced unstable weather prone to tornadoes, flooding, and hail.
As of Monday, 19 tornadoes were reported in at least seven states.
The National Weather Service said severe weather, including possible thunderstorms and flash flooding, was expected in many of these same areas over the next few days.
An estimated 53 million people from northeast Texas to Virginia will be in the risk zone for severe storms on Thursday.
Portage is approximately 142 miles west of Detroit.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
