Videos Show Tornado Rip Through Michigan, Destroy FedEx Facility

Videos shared on social media show the destruction after at least two tornadoes tore through Michigan on Tuesday evening.

The cities of Portage and Kalamazoo were hit especially hard by the violent storms, with videos and photos depicting extensive damage to multiple structures. Several clips captured a partially collapsed FedEx building in Portage.

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FedEx spokesperson Shannon Davis confirmed the facility was damaged in an email to Newsweek on Tuesday night.

"Our thoughts are with those affected by the tornado in Portage, Michigan, and we are grateful there were no serious injuries resulting from the damage to our facility at 6701 Portage Road," Davis said. "We continue to assess the damage, and we are implementing contingency plans to lessen any potential impacts on service. Customers with questions about their shipments can check fedex.com for updates."

It was unclear at the time of publication how many people were inside the facility when the tornado hit or how many suffered injuries.

The storms in Michigan followed a burst of severe weather on Monday when at least 15 tornadoes were reported to have struck parts of the central U.S.

Several other states on Tuesday night were under tornado watches, including parts of Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Michigan, NWS forecasts warned of more dangerous weather through Tuesday night. About an hour after confirming one tornado made landfall around 6 p.m., the NWS office in Grand Rapids and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office confirmed after 7 p.m. that another one was tearing through the area.

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Newsweek reached out via email on Tuesday night to the NWS and Michigan State Police for comment and updates on storm damage across the state.

The punishing storms prompted Governor Gretchen Whitmer to take action for four Michigan counties.

"I've declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties after a severe storm system," Whitmer posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. "We will work with emergency teams overnight to monitor the situation and coordinate resources for those affected. Michigan is strong and together we will rebuild."

Videos shared on X, show a tornado on the ground near Kalamazoo and the destruction at the FedEx facility.

In one clip, X user Jim Morrison showed storm damage, writing: "Lot of damage from the tornado in Kalamazoo and Portage. FedEx building looks bad!"

Journalist Meghan Anne Bunchman shared a video of the damaged FedEx building, showing a gaping hole in the center of the massive facility.

"A different, more terrifying angle of today's storm and its impact on this FedEx building in Portage," Bunchman wrote on X.

A photo shared on X by local television station WWMT captures the damage inflicted on several mobile homes.

"A tornado destroyed some mobile homes at Pavilion Estates in Kalamazoo Tuesday evening," WWMT wrote.

X user Bobby Ellison posted: "BREAKING | Major damage reported following tornado near Kalamazoo Michigan."

Another clip shared on X by storm chaser Aaron Jayjack shows ominous skies as the storm moves toward the city of Glendora.

"Tornado warned storm approaching Glendora, MI right now! Video from @jhadella #miwx," Jayjack wrote.

Update 05/07/24, 11:21 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.