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Suspected tornadoes destroy buildings in Portage
A FedEx facility in Portage was one of numerous buildings damaged in Southwest Michigan after suspected tornadoes struck the area on Tuesday night.
PORTAGE, Mich. (FOX 2) - A confirmed EF-2 tornado ripped through a FedEx facility Tuesday night in Portage.
Workers were inside the city that is just south of Kalamazoo when the severe weather struck the building. No serious injuries have been reported as rescuers continue to sift through the wreckage both at the building and other areas in Southwest Michigan, including a mobile home park in nearby Pavillion Township, where more than a dozen homes were destroyed.
Powerful thunderstorms, suspected tornadoes rip through Michigan: 'Hellacious wind'
Powerful storms, including suspected tornadoes, moved through Michigan on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction from the southwest side of the state to Metro Detroit.
According to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office, about 176 homes in the Pavilion Estates mobile home park were damaged, and 15-17 were destroyed. Late Tuesday, he said 16-20 people were hurt, though the injuries do not appear to be serious.
The National Weather Service
Michigan tornado damage photos:
Damage in Metro Detroit
Though the storms weren't as strong on the east side of the state, they still caused damage to homes in the area.
Strong winds toppled trees onto homes and power lines, especially in Macomb County.
Harvard Shore Drive in St. Clair Shores was hit particularly hard. Residents said the storm that moved through the area was quick, lasting only a few minutes, but powerful.
"It was pretty wild. It was raining really hard and the rain was picking up, and heard a long bang, and I thought it ws thunder. It happened to be the tree," resident Ron Pleva said. "It had to be a hellacious wind because that tree is pretty old."
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Metro Detroit hit by powerful storms
After suspected tornadoes touched down on the west side of the side, severe thunderstorms hit Metro Detroit. Residents in parts of the area are waking up to downed trees and wires.