Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties after several tornadoes hit

(WWJ) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties, after at least three tornadoes tore through West Michigan on Tuesday, destroying buildings and injuring up to 20 people.

Two confirmed tornadoes were in Kalamazoo County's Portage, where officials say a large FedEx building and mobile home park were torn apart.

A third tornado was reported in Union City, south of Battle Creek.

The National Weather Service is investigating.

[National Weather Service working to determine the number, strength of tornadoes that hit Michigan Tuesday]

“My heart goes out to all those impacted by tonight’s severe weather in southwest Michigan,” said Gov. Whitmer, in a statement. “State and local emergency teams are on the ground and working together to assist Michiganders. I’ve declared a state of emergency to ensure resources are expedited to the area and activated our State Emergency Operations Center. We will continue monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts overnight. I want to thank all the first responders working hard to keep Michiganders safe. We’ll get through this together.”

Officials in Kalamazoo County now say that 16 to 20 people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries suffered in these storms.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said there was catastrophic damage done to Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Community, with many units destroyed.

Thankfully, no one was killed.

"There was nobody in those homes that was hurt significantly," Fuller said, at a news conference Wednesday morning. "There are injuries. There are 16 to 20 people who were can confirm have been injured; none of those injuries appeared significant."

In a 4 p.m. press conference updating the situation, Fuller estimated more than 100 families in Portage have been displaced by what he called "mass destruction" left behind by the tornadoes.

"The injuries that we did see yesterday ultimately turned out pretty minor, considering that many of these people were inside these homes that are demolished or inside some of these homes that were flipped up and upside down," Fuller said.

Portage resident Dale Ludlow, who lives in the hard-hit Golden Tree Apartments, said he saw the twister coming.

"I was in my apartment; just heard the sirens go off, guy said head for...the nearest, you know, your shelter inside," he told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "I just sat there in a chair and watching it just go flipping by."

NWS Meteorologist Ernie Ostuno says a normal strength tornado in Michigan usually tracks at EF-0 or EF-1, but due to the structural damage in Portage, we could see a higher level rating once assessments are complete.

Joe Borenstein of Portage hunkered down in his basement with his chocolate lab, and admits both of them were scared.

"I could hear it start to build and build up pretty quickly," he told WWJ's Beth Fisher. "Next thing you know it sounds like there's a freight train going over the house. And then big, loud cracking sounds and thuds hitting my house."

"She was like me; your heart's thumping and I could tell she was nervous. She was starting to shake a little bit," Borenstein said. "Once you hear those thuds ...that's when, really, both of us I could tell — I've had her for over nine years, since she was a pup — and she was obviously nervous."

Borenstein lost three oak trees and has a couple holes in his roof, but both he and his dog are OK.

Wednesday morning, a Portage woman was out surveying the damage on her street. "The house across the street from us, their garage is completely gone now. They're missing part of their roof," she said.

"The house kitty-corner from us has trees on top of it. My neighbor's house around the corner is almost completely destroyed."

By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer makes available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated area. The declaration authorizes the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what MSP/EMHSD has already been doing in conjunction with local agencies.

“My heart goes out to all of the residents, business owners and communities in Kalamazoo County and the surrounding areas impacted by tonight’s tornadoes,” said state Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo). “I appreciate the swift work of our first responders, volunteers and neighbors to help those who were injured or experienced damages, and am grateful for the governor’s equally swift response to declare an emergency in the area and dedicate state support to assist with cleanup and repairs.”

Consumers Energy said about 24,000 homes and business were without power.