At least six people have died, and over a dozen others have been injured
At least six people have died, and over a dozen others have been injured after tornadoes struck Michigan and Oklahoma.
Officials have announced four people were killed in southern Michigan, including a 12-year-old boy. Two others died in Oklahoma on Friday, with rescue workers continuing to assess the damage, per the BBC.
The storms caused widespread damage on Friday, uprooting trees, bringing down power lines, damaging buildings and tearing roofs off some homes.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that severe weather could persist into the weekend, with thunderstorms and flash flooding expected from the Great Plains to Texas.
The Branch County sheriff’s department in Michigan said three people were killed and 12 others were injured near Union City after a tornado hit on Friday. They went on to say that power outages and road closures are expected this weekend.
Approximately 50 miles (80 km) away in Cass County, Michigan, authorities reported one death and several injuries.
“Multiple large structures – including homes and pole barns – sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to destruction,” they said in a statement.
Hundreds of people were reported to be without power, they added.
Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach announced yesterday (Saturday, March 7) that 12-year-old Silas Anderson died from unspecified weather-related injuries in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
“Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she activated a state emergency for Branch, Cass and St Joseph counties.
“We are working with emergency teams to monitor the situation and coordinate resources for those impacted,” she said.
“My heart is with the families who lost loved ones and the Michiganders who were injured yesterday.”
Emergency management officials said local responders are still searching affected areas and starting recovery efforts.
In Oklahoma, Jeff Moore, the county’s emergency manager, reported that a tornado carved a roughly 4-mile (6.4 km) damage path through Okmulgee County, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Tulsa.
“We’re just getting everywhere as fast as we can, clearing roads as fast as we can,” Moore said.
Two deaths were reported in Beggs, Oklahoma, according to the Okmulgee County sheriff’s office, per The BBC.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said he declared a state of emergency for Alfalfa, Creek, Grant, Major, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties “to ensure Oklahomans have the support and resources they need after last night’s storms.”
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