Test – Members: May 7 Tornadoes in West Michigan

Here is information on the impact of tornadoes that swept through parts of Michigan.

May 8 Update – Tornadoes in SW Michigan

u003ch3u003eu003cstrongu003eu003cspan style=u0022color: #ff6600;u0022u003eAdditional Details:u003c/spanu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/h3u003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eWhat we know:u003c/pu003ernrnu003col style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eTwo tornadoes touched down in Portage, Michigan the evening of May 7u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eThere were no reported casualties despite the widespread damage that occurred to commercial and residential buildings.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003e16 individuals reported injuries, but none were determined to be critical.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCounty officials are conducting damage assessments this morning so we will soon know how many residential and commercial buildings have been damaged.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePavilion Estates Mobile Home Park was one of the worst impacted areas. 176 trailers were determined to be damaged and affected families were evacuated.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eAll personnel of the impacted FedEx facility were accounted for and no injuries were reported.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eAnother 40-50 people were evacuated from an apartment complex that sustained damage.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eThe Red Cross Shelter at Kalamazoo First Assembly of God [u003ca href=u0022https://www.google.com/maps/search/5550+Oakland+Dr,+Portage+MI?entry=gmailu0026amp;source=gu0022 data-saferedirecturl=u0022https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/5550%2BOakland%2BDr,%2BPortage%2BMI?entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dgu0026amp;source=gmailu0026amp;ust=1715351716973000u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw2UKTNbSXKwDHX0Wrzxw5Yuu0022u003e5550 Oakland Dr, Portage MIu003c/au003e] is currently the only functioning emergency shelter.u003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe u003cstrongu003eCity of Portageu003c/strongu003e has set up two shelters for those who were displaced by the tornadoes:u003c/pu003ernrnu003cul style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eFirst Assembly of God, u003ca href=u0022https://www.google.com/maps/search/555+Oakland+Drive?entry=gmailu0026amp;source=gu0022 data-saferedirecturl=u0022https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/555%2BOakland%2BDrive?entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dgu0026amp;source=gmailu0026amp;ust=1715351728140000u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw1dLaMQE-aUGpo5ounj-4pmu0022u003e555 Oakland Driveu003c/au003e — 100-person capacityu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eRadiant Church, u003ca href=u0022https://www.google.com/maps/search/995+Romence+Road?entry=gmailu0026amp;source=gu0022 data-saferedirecturl=u0022https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/995%2BRomence%2BRoad?entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dgu0026amp;source=gmailu0026amp;ust=1715351728140000u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw3nbEQalQZXmTScO1nbL1Usu0022u003e995 Romence Roadu003c/au003e — 100-person capacityu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe u003cstrongu003ecity of Portage’su003c/strongu003e non-emergency offices are closed on Wednesday. However, Portage residents can call 269.329.4444 for city service information, including brush pickup and clean-up assistance.u003c/pu003ernu0026nbsp;rnu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eAnyone who needs assistance can call 1.800.RED.CROSS.u003c/pu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eTheu003cstrongu003e Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Officeu003c/strongu003e urges residents to call 269.488.8911 for non-emergency calls and 211 for shelter and human service resources.u003c/pu003ernrnrnu003chr /u003ernrnu003ch3u003eu003cspan style=u0022color: #ff6600;u0022u003eFrom Management, Pavilion Estates trailer park:u003c/spanu003eu003c/h3u003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThere are a number of needs arising for the families affected at the mobile home park.u003c/pu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eIf you are able to help provide any of the following items please assist:u003c/pu003ernrnu003culu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Diapers (all sizes)u003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Baby Wipesu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Baby Formulau003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Children’s clothing (10 years and under)u003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Children’s Shoes (10 years and under)u003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Toilet paper [THIS IS AN URGENT NEED]u003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Flashlightsu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Flashlight Batteriesu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Hand Sanitizeru003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Face Masksu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e-Work Glovesu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eThe contact for donations is Lori Richards, Community Manager at Pavilion Estates.u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eHer contact information is: 734-589-9377, 269-344-6186, and u003ca href=u0022mailto:LoRichards@yescommunities.comu0022u003eLoRichards@yescommunities.comu003c/au003eu003c/pu003ernu0026nbsp;rnrnu003chr /u003ernrnu003ch3u003eu003cspan style=u0022color: #ff6600;u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eFrom news sources:u003c/strongu003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/h3u003ernu003cstrongu003eThe Better Business Bureauu003c/strongu003e is telling homeowners to beware of scammers when looking to hire help to clean up, especially anyone going door-to-door or on social media offering storm cleanup assistance. The BBB notes it has thunderstorm and tornado resources u003cbu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.bbb.org/all/natural-disasters/thunderstorms-and-tornadoesu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022 data-saferedirecturl=u0022https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbb.org/all/natural-disasters/thunderstorms-and-tornadoesu0026amp;source=gmailu0026amp;ust=1715351728140000u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw2HVSBsij0-RfetjaOzy87Yu0022u003eonlineu003c/au003eu003c/bu003e.rnrnu003cstrongu003eConsumers Energyu003c/strongu003e urges people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines. If you see one, assume it is energized, call 911 and Consumers Energy at 800.477.5050.rnrnu003cstrongu003eKalamazoo County Emergency Managementu003c/strongu003e has a damage self-reporting tool that allows users to mark points on a map if they have experienced damage to their homes from the storms on Tuesday, May 7th. This will speed up response and recovery as crews fan out at daylight today (May 8th) to assess damage and assign workers to clear debris and begin our recovery process. Here is the link: u003ca href=u0022https://arcg.is/10ab1ju0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022 data-saferedirecturl=u0022https://www.google.com/url?q=https://arcg.is/10ab1ju0026amp;source=gmailu0026amp;ust=1715351716973000u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw24TIvmHrkqy1uh2epqdn6Qu0022u003ehttps://arcg.is/10ab1j u003c/au003ernrnu0026nbsp;

MI-VOAD assistance has been offered for debris removal, emotional/spiritual care, donations management, volunteer coordination, water distribution, clean-up kits, etc.

MI-VOAD advises interested volunteers not to self-deploy. The first job is to ensure that everyone (survivors, volunteers) are safe and secure.

Here is information on the impact of tornadoes that swept through parts of Michigan.

NWS Tornado Warning area map, May 7, 2024

May 8 Update from Michigan State Police and Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Some key facts:

  • Four counties have declared a disaster locally: Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Cass, Branch
  • The Governor declared a state disaster last night for the above counties. The declaration frees up state resources to help local authorities with clean-up and rebuilding efforts.
  • Currently 4 radar-confirmed tornadoes are being reported by GR NWS (two in Portage) – possibly more will be confirmed
  • Red Cross has two shelters up and running in Portage – 10 overnight clients used the shelter
  • Consumers Energy reports over 27000 outages with over 70 lines down. There are also reports of natural gas leaks
  • A trailer park in the Cass county area reports significant damage
  • The Dept of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will send out a press release this morning advising on best practices for debris removal
  • Three community water supplies are on back-up power – EGLE is asking Consumers Energy to prioritize those areas for restoration
  • MSP Aviation will be doing surveys this morning
  • The next update meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning, May 9

 

From news sources:

The Better Business Bureau is telling homeowners to beware of scammers when looking to hire help to clean up, especially anyone going door-to-door or on social media offering storm cleanup assistance. The BBB notes it has thunderstorm and tornado resources online.

Consumers Energy urges people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines. If you see one, assume it is energized, call 911 and Consumers Energy at 800.477.5050.

Kalamazoo County Emergency Management has a damage self-reporting tool that allows users to mark points on a map if they have experienced damage to their homes from the storms on Tuesday, May 7th. This will speed up response and recovery as crews fan out at daylight today (May 8th) to assess damage and assign workers to clear debris and begin our recovery process. Here is the link: https://arcg.is/10ab1j 

 

MI-VOAD assistance has been offered for debris removal, emotional/spiritual care, donations management, volunteer coordination, water distribution, clean-up kits, etc.

MI-VOAD advises interested volunteers not to self-deploy. The first job is to ensure that everyone (survivors, volunteers) are safe and secure.

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