At Least Four Dead, Dozens Injured as Tornadoes Slam Union City and Three Rivers, Michigan
At least four people are confirmed dead and more than a dozen injured after a series of powerful tornadoes ripped through southwest Michigan Friday, authorities say. The hardest‑hit communities include Union City in Branch County and nearby Three Rivers in St. Joseph County, where storm damage was widespread and dramatic. Officials have reported three deaths and at least 12 injuries in the Union City area, with another fatality and additional injuries in surrounding counties as tornadoes spawned by a violent storm system moved across the region.
Local emergency management teams and sheriff’s offices described extensive destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, with power outages affecting hundreds of residents. The National Weather Service confirmed multiple tornado touchdowns in the area Friday afternoon, with footage shared online showing debris flying and buildings damaged as storms swept through. Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center to support response efforts and coordinate resources across affected counties.
Dramatic cellphone video from Three Rivers, Michigan, showed people taking cover inside a Cricket Wireless store as the tornado approached, debris swirling just outside the doors. In the footage, individuals can be heard urging one another to close the doors while the storm’s roar grows louder and objects whip past outside. The clip underscores the intensity and suddenness of the severe weather that struck the community.
Other social media videos from the region captured funnel clouds crossing parking lots, roofs being torn from businesses, and trees uprooted by powerful winds as residents sought shelter. Videos also showed damage at a Menards hardware store in Three Rivers, with pieces of roofing and building materials strewn across the surrounding area.
Emergency responders, utility crews, and volunteers worked through the night to clear debris, restore power, and check on residents in the hardest‑hit neighborhoods. Officials cautioned that restoration of services could take several days due to the scale of the damage. Shelters and aid resources have been activated for displaced families and those in need of assistance.
This tornado outbreak was part of a broader severe weather system affecting parts of the Midwest, where warm, unstable atmospheric conditions helped spawn powerful storms. The exact strength of the tornadoes will be determined as the National Weather Service completes damage surveys this weekend.
Authorities continue to urge residents in southwest Michigan to stay alert for further severe weather, avoid travel in heavily damaged areas, and check in with local officials for updates on safety, road closures, and relief efforts.
