On Sunday, March 30, four tornadoes touched down in Michigan. The National Weather Service confirmed they touched down in Cass County and Kent County on the west side of the state and Ingham County near Lansing. All the confirmed tornadoes were either rated EF-0s or EF-1s, the weakest tornadoes in terms of strength and velocity.
The first tornado was an EF-1, which hit Edwardsburg in Cass County near the Indiana border at 4:52 p.m. There were winds of nearly 100 mph. For about three minutes, trees were snapped, and buildings were ruined.
The second tornado touched down in Cutlerville at 5:42 p.m. and was an EF-0. This storm had winds up to 80 mph, doing damage to trees and houses.
The third and fourth tornadoes were both in Ingham County. One of them touched down in Leslie at 6:20 p.m. with 75 mph winds. This tornado appeared to be an EF-0. The other tornado was stronger, with 110 mph winds, and it was on the ground for more than five miles in Williamston at 6:40 p.m. It was classified as an EF-1.
The tornado activity was low level compared to past storms, but it was still deadly. According to MLive, in Kalamazoo County, three children died, and other people were injured when a tree fell on their vehicle during the storm.
The tornado ripped off people’s roofs, siding on homes, trees got ripped out of the ground, boats and cars were damaged, and docks were flipped.
Not only did three children die, authorities confirmed a 56-year-old man was killed when high winds caused a tree to fall on a house in Stockbridge Township.
Alerts were sent to people’s phones for a tornado warning. The alerts help keep people informed about what the weather is doing, this will help people stay safe and plan accordingly.
The aftermath of these storms caused a mess. People are cleaning up the streets from the debris of the storm. According to CBS News, one of the residents in Milian, Michigan, was forced to leave her home and live elsewhere because the city was covered in debris. People were grateful to hear that nobody had been hurt in their city. Melissa Siler was impacted by the storm, and she said, “Nobody got hurt here, thank god.”
Communities are recovering from the tornados through combined efforts. Clearing debris and rebuilding damaged homes will take time, depending on the severity of the damage. Community organizations and volunteers often play a crucial role in helping residents rebuild their homes and lives.
In response to the storms, local authorities and organizations began mobilizing to provide relief efforts. Shelters were set up for those who lost their homes, and community members supported each other. The state government has also pledged to assist in recovery efforts. Officials will continue to monitor weather conditions to prepare people.
