A rare tornado in northern Michigan killed 1 person and injured more than 40 others. Let’s take a look at what happened in the northern Michigan tornado.
Tornado in Northern Michigan killed 1 person and injured more than 40
On Friday, a rare tornado in northern Michigan ripped through a small community, killing at least one person and injuring more than 40 others as it flipped vehicles, tore roofs off buildings, and downed trees and power lines.
At around 3.45 p.m., the twister struck Gaylord, a city of about 4,200 people about 370 kilometers northwest of Detroit.
Mike Klepadlo, the owner of Alter-Start North, said he and his employees took refuge in a bathroom.
“I’m lucky to be alive. “It blew the back of the building off,” he explained. “Twenty feet (6 meters) of the back wall has been removed.” The entire roof has collapsed. At least half of the structure is still standing. It’s a disaster.”
Emma Goddard, 15, said she was working at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe when she received the tornado alert on her phone. She dismissed the weather outside as “stormy, but not scary,” and returned to what she was doing. Her mother then called, and she assured her mother that she was fine.
Two minutes later, she was pouring a smoothie for a customer when her coworker’s mother rushed in, yelling for them to go to the back of the building, Goddard said via text message to The Associated Press. They sought refuge in the walk-in cooler, where they could hear the windows shatter.
“I was crammed shoulder to shoulder with my seven coworkers, two of my coworkers’ parents, and a lady from Door Dash who was picking up her smoothies.” When they stepped outside about 15 minutes later, they found “some of our cars in pieces and insulation all over the ground,” Goddard said. According to her, three nearby businesses were destroyed.
Heavy damage throughout the area. pic.twitter.com/zNHVbdOWR7
— @MSPNorthernMI (@mspnorthernmi) May 20, 2022
Mayor Todd Sharrard stated, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.” “I’m feeling numb.”
A video posted online showed a dark funnel cloud appear out of a cloud as nervous drivers looked on or drove away slowly, uncertain of its path.
Another video showed extensive damage along Main Street in the city. One structure appeared to be mostly collapsed, and a Goodwill store was severely damaged. A downed utility pole lay on the side of the road, and debris, including what appeared to be electrical wires and parts of a Marathon gas station, was strewn about.
Ambulances are transporting injured persons to local hospitals. No confirmed deaths at this time. pic.twitter.com/IQmGrAeXrC
— @MSPNorthernMI (@mspnorthernmi) May 20, 2022
The Red Cross established a shelter at a church.
Brandie Slough, 42, said she and her teen daughter sought refuge in a Culver’s restroom. When they emerged, the windows of the fast-food restaurant had been blown out, and her pickup truck had been flipped on its roof in the parking lot.
#BREAKING – Drone Video after tornado – Prayers for all involved. At least 1 dead and at least 40 injured after massive tornado descends on Gaylord, Michigan area. Damage is described as “catastrophic.” #gaylord #gaylordmichigan #tornado #weather #wx pic.twitter.com/L1ZXNDyvnV
— Paul Mueller (@RealPaulMueller) May 21, 2022
“We shook our heads in disbelief but are relieved to be alive.” “Who cares about the truck at that point?” Slough said.
Eddie Thrasher, 55, said he was sitting outside an auto parts store in his car when the tornado appeared above him.
“There are roofs ripped off businesses, as well as a row of industrial-type warehouses,” Thrasher explained. “RVs were turned inside out and destroyed.” There were numerous emergency vehicles on their way from the east side of town.” He claimed to have dashed into the store to wait it out.
“My adrenaline was going crazy,” Thrasher explained. “It was over in less than five minutes.”
Due to the ongoing emergency in Gaylord, residents are asked to shelter in place. The City of Gaylord has imposed a 7:00 PM curfew. It will be lifted tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. pic.twitter.com/gnOsS6oka4
— @MSPNorthernMI (@mspnorthernmi) May 20, 2022
Extreme winds are uncommon in this part of Michigan because the Great Lakes suck the energy out of storms, especially early in the spring when the lakes are very cold, according to Jim Keysor, a Gaylord-based National Weather Service meteorologist. “Many kids and young adults would never have experienced any direct severe weather if they had grown up in Gaylord,” he said.
Gaylord last experienced a severe wind storm in 1998, when straight-line winds reached 100 mph, according to Keysor. He said the conditions that spawned Friday’s twister included a cold front moving in from Wisconsin and collapsing with hot and humid air over Gaylord, as well as turning winds in the lower atmosphere.
Here’s another view of the #Gaylord #tornado moving across the city. Watch as the stop lights are blown nearly sideways. #miwx pic.twitter.com/QfsSpUEH9c
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) May 21, 2022
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Otsego County, releasing additional state resources to the county.
Gaylord, also known as the “Alpine Village,” is set to celebrate its 100th birthday this year, with a parade and open house at City Hall later this summer.
In July, the community also hosts Alpenfest, an Alpine-themed celebration honoring the city’s heritage and a partnership with a sister city in Switzerland.
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