Weather service confirms EF-2 tornado Tuesday hit Sherwood Township

Officials descended on Branch County Wednesday to assess the tornado damage in Sherwood Township following Tuesday night's storms.

"This is consistent with strong EF-2 tornado, damage-wise. I'm gonna guess winds around 125 to 130 mph maximum," said meteorologist Todd Holston.

He and others from the National Weather Service of Northern Indiana in North Webster covered the Michigan area struck by at least two severe storms to document the damage correlating with the tornado's intensity.

After inspection and viewing drone images along the about 6 mile path from near Colon across Blossom Lake across the St. Joseph River to Dunks Road, Holston gave his preliminary estimate.

The final decision is used to construct the tornado track and assign a final EF rating. That information is shared with local and state emergency management partners, Homeland Security, and insurance companies. Decisions on state and federal aid come from the data.

Branch County Emergency Manager Tim Miner was with Holston on Wednesday.

Early Wednesday, a Michigan State Police helicopter flew the path across Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo counties to provide additional information.

Miner determined nine residences received substantial damage and were lost or needed repairs before families could return.

Residents brought out tractors, chainsaws, and skid steers Tuesday night to remove debris to open roads and drives. More were back Wednesday with professional tree services, loggers, and repair companies.

Cleanup began with piles of trees and limbs at the sides of the road. The Branch County Road Commission concentrated clean up along the hardest hit Arney Road before spreading out.

Roofers could be seen repairing about a dozen roofs damaged by the high winds.

Consumers Energy connected lines to the least damaged areas. Supervisors surveyed along the lines to determine how many poles, transformers, and other equipment must be replaced.

Consumers' website estimated service would be restored by Wednesday for the 385 Sherwood area customers.

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At least a dozen pole barns, hip roof barns, storage sheds, and silos came down in the winds, although Miner said no total had yet been determined.

The common refrain was, "at least no one was hurt."

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Weather service confirms EF-2 tornado Tuesday hit Sherwood Township