Michigan storms cause 75 mph winds, claim 5 lives.
Severe Storms Cause Devastation in Michigan
In a powerful display of nature’s fury, severe storms with winds reaching up to 75 mph (121 kph) wreaked havoc in Michigan. The aftermath of the storms included downed trees, roofs torn off buildings, and tragically, the loss of five lives. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power. The National Weather Service suspects that two tornadoes may have contributed to the destruction.
Tragic Collision Claims Lives
In western Michigan, tragedy struck when two vehicles collided head-on during the heavy rain. A 21-year-old woman and two young girls, aged 1 and 3, lost their lives in the accident. Sergeant Eric Brunner of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office described the incident, stating that one of the vehicles hydroplaned on the wet road, causing the collision. The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries, while a 22-year-old man from Gowen, who was driving the car carrying the victims, was seriously injured.
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Another fatality occurred in Lansing, the state capital, when a tree fell on a home. Despite the efforts of firefighters to rescue the trapped individual, they were unable to save their life. In Ingham County, where a possible tornado was reported, one person was confirmed dead, and several others suffered severe injuries as more than 25 vehicles were severely damaged along Interstate 96.
The storms caused widespread destruction, with uprooted trees and collapsed roofs blocking roads and causing power outages. The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids announced that damage surveys would be conducted to assess the impact of the suspected tornadoes in Kent and Ingham counties.
Residents in the suburb of Southfield, near Detroit, experienced the terrifying force of the storm firsthand. Muqitu Berry, a local resident, described the moment a neighbor’s tree crashed onto his property, likening the sound to a roaring train. The fallen tree not only blocked Berry’s driveway but also brought down power lines, leaving him and his neighbors without electricity.
The impact of the storms was felt across the region, prompting Wayne County Executive Warren Evans to declare a state of emergency. The declaration was made due to the extensive power outages, flooding, fallen trees and power lines, and storm debris in Michigan’s largest county, which includes Detroit.
Canton Township, a community located west of Detroit, had already been dealing with flooding in its downtown area earlier in the week. The storms on Thursday night further exacerbated the situation, causing significant damage to the township’s parks and leading to numerous reports of basement flooding from concerned residents.
As of Friday morning, more than 460,000 customers in Michigan and over 218,000 in Ohio were still without power, according to the Poweroutage.us website. These storms followed heavy rainfall on Wednesday, which resulted in street flooding in the Detroit area, adding to the challenges faced by the affected communities.
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