GAYLORD, MICHIGAN – At least one person was killed and 44 others were injured when a a tornado landed in Gaylord, Michigan on Friday, according to Gaylord Mayor Todd Sharrad.
Michigan State Police and Mayor Sharrad say the tornado hit the mobile home park for the first time and lasted about two to three miles through the shopping corridor seen in the video player above.
“I would say he was on the ground for about two hours,” said Mayor Gaylord Sharrad. “It really destroyed the hobby lobby, Jimmy Jones, Quick Lube in our western part of town, and then it went into town and destroyed a lot of homes.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer arrived in Gaylord on Friday night and declared a state of emergency.
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“It’s been a difficult week for Northern Michigan,” Whitmer said. “We had the fire on the blue lake until today’s tornado right here in Gaylord, and I know it will be a difficult weekend for the families here. For business and recovery. We are residents of Michigan and we are healthy, resilient and we have been through a lot of difficult things together, especially in the last few years, and we will go through that. ”
The damage is serious and authorities say it will take days to assess the severity of the damage.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” Sharard said. “Most of my training went on and now it’s like ‘I feel exhausted here.’ I am concerned for all our citizens, the whole crew who are trying to help clean everything up. ”
Officials say the damage was significant as the injured were transported to a number of hospitals after the Gaylord Emergency Room stopped taking patience due to a power outage as it operated on emergency generators.
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“You always see it in pictures and you always see it on TV from other communities, but not in our backyard,” Sharard said. “The devastation is stiff.”
Sharard says at least 12 houses have been destroyed, leaving nothing but the foundation.
Read: “It was like driving through a war zone”: A tornado destroys at least 12 houses in Gaylord
There is no power, but more than 100 consumer teams travel to Gaylord to help with power shortages, and if you’re trying to connect with loved ones, a cell phone tower has been removed, so it can be a communication challenge.
IN National Meteorological Service confirmed that the tornado moved through the area around 3:45 pm on May 20 and viewers sent photos of the aftermath. The photos show how significant the damage was when even large stores were crushed.
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NWS officials said they would investigate the damage on Friday afternoon and evening. They said the poll would not be completed until Saturday. NWS plans to share a storm summary page online tonight.
Officials with Michigan Department of Transportation said the tornado fell near the Home Depot in the western part of the city before moving east. MDOT also said debris was dumped on nearby roads, including the M-32. We ask drivers to drive with caution in the area.
“So we don’t really know we don’t know the magnitude yet,” said NWS’s Jim Caesar. “We currently have a storm research team. But we know that there is significant damage in the western part of Gaylord, many companies, many homes, there are many debris and roads that are blocked by debris.
At least one person was killed and 44 others were injured in a tornado in Gaylord, Michigan on Friday, according to Gaylord Mayor Todd Sharrad. Michigan State Police and Mayor Sharrad say the tornado hit the mobile home park for the first time and lasted about two to three miles through a shopping mall seen in the video player above.
Review: Photos and videos show significant tornado damage in the Gaylord area
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The National Weather Service confirms that Gaylord was hit by a tornado on Friday afternoon. Police said many homes and businesses were damaged.
Gaylord resident Linda Buck witnessed the tornado and spoke to Local 4 on Friday.
“My heart was pounding, I was very nervous, because I had never seen a tornado before and I had never seen it in action with debris, so I was quite nervous. We were just trying to come up with a plan, and of course we don’t have a basement for my work, so we thought we’d just throw ourselves in the back rooms if we got caught. But fortunately it did not happen. But unfortunately there were other people who saw the weight of it, “Buck said.
Original report: The tornado lands on Friday in Gaylord; Shops are damaged, vehicles are thrown, there are injured
A tornado fell on Friday in western Gaylord, Michigan, the National Weather Service confirmed. READ: https://www.clickondetroit.com/weather/2022/05/20/tornado-touches-down-friday-in-gaylord-area-national-weather-service-confirms/
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is in charge
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said authorities were closely monitoring the situation in Gaylord.
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She said Michigan State Police reported downed trees and power lines and damage to several homes and businesses.
“We are closely monitoring the extreme weather situation in Gaylord and Northern Michigan. As Michigan State Police noted, trees and power lines have fallen and many homes and businesses have been damaged. The MSP is urging Michigan residents to avoid the Gaylord area. Emergency teams are responding to help residents and assess the damage. Strong thunderstorms and warnings remain in effect throughout northern Michigan. Our thoughts are with the affected communities and first aid workers and communal workers who work hard to protect everyone. “
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
See photos of the damage caused by the Gaylord tornado below:
This photo, provided by Angela Russ, shows severe weather damage in Gaylord, Michigan, just outside City 75 at South 282, Friday, May 20, 2022. (Angela Russ via AP) This image courtesy of Stephen Bischer , shows damage after an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Michigan (Stephen Bisher via AP) South 282, Friday, May 20, 2022 (Angela Russ via AP) This photo, provided by Angela Russ, shows severe weather damage in Gaylord, Michigan, just off the exit of citys 75 South 282, Friday, May 20. 2022 (Angela Russ via AP) This image provided by Stephen Bisher shows damage after an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Michigan (Stephen Bischer via AP) This image provided by Stephen Bischer shows damage after an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Michigan (Stephen Bisher via AP) This image is from provided by Stephen Bischer, the show is an inverted vehicle after an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Michigan. (Stephen Bisher via AP) Tornado lands in Gaylord Tornado damage on May 20, 2022 in the Gaylord area. Damage from May 20, 2022, tornado in the Gaylord area. The tornado lands in Gaylord on Friday; Damaged shops, abandoned vehicles, reported injuries. Tornado damage on May 20, 2022 in the Gaylord area. (Michigan State Police) Tornado damage on May 20, 2022 in the Gaylord area. (Michigan State Police) Tornado lands in Gaylord on Friday; Damaged shops, abandoned vehicles, reported injuries. Tornado damage on May 20, 2022 in the Gaylord area. (Michigan State Police) Tornado damage on May 20, 2022, a tornado in the Gaylord area. Video shows a tornado moving through Gaylord, Michigan on May 20, 2022. Tornado damage on May 20, 2022, a tornado in the Gaylord area. Damage from May 20, 2022, tornado in the Gaylord area. Damage from May 20, 2022, tornado in the Gaylord area. Tornado damage in Gaylord on May 20, 2022 (WDIV) Tornado damage in Gaylord on May 20. (WDIV2)) Tornado damage in Gaylord on May 20, 2022 (WDIV)
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