Tornadoes that swept through Michigan and Oklahoma on March 6 left at least six people dead and more than a dozen injured, according to reports from the National Weather Service and local officials. Residents across affected communities spent the following day assessing damage to homes, businesses, and public buildings.
The storms produced at least 13 tornado reports across the two states through Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Fatal Storm in Union City, Michigan
One of the deadliest tornadoes struck Union City, a village in southwestern Michigan. The storm killed three people and injured at least 12 others. The tornado developed from a lone supercell thunderstorm. Unlike typical thunderstorms, which have updrafts that last for 30 minutes to an hour, supercell storms can maintain rotating updrafts for hours and often produce severe weather.
Residents described the storm as extremely brief but destructive. Paul Guthrie, a Union City resident, said the damage occurred in seconds. The winds cracked his roof, tore open part of his home, and carried his shed across the street. His mailbox landed as far as half a mile to three-quarters of a mile away near a friend’s house.
Across town, storm damage appeared uneven. One auto shop lost part of its wall, exposing several vehicles inside to rain and wind. Nearby businesses remained largely untouched.
Several homes sustained significant damage. Tony and Ashley Macklin boarded up shattered windows after the tornado passed. Broken glass remained scattered across their living room floor. Ashley Macklin described the storm’s pressure as overwhelming and said she could barely hear anything during the event.
Other residents also reported property losses. Monte and Bridget Putnam found their garage door blown apart, with the windows shattered and the door hanging off its frame. The storm destroyed a backyard shed and dragged a lawn mower across their property. Their truck ended up pinned beneath the damaged garage door.
Additional fatalities occurred elsewhere in Michigan. In Cass County near Edwardsburg, authorities reported that a 12-year-old boy died after a tornado struck the area. Several others were injured. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said injuries were also reported in neighboring St. Joseph County.
Storm Damage in Oklahoma
Storm activity also caused damage and fatalities in Oklahoma.
In Tulsa, city officials reported damaged buildings and downed power lines. At the Peoria campus of Tulsa Tech, a tornado tore the roof off a building. Debris from twisted metal scattered across the campus lawn and became caught in nearby trees.
Tony Heaberlin, a spokesman for Tulsa Tech, said no one was inside the damaged building at the time. The campus serves about 550 students, and officials reported no injuries there.
Roughly 30 miles south of Tulsa, two people died after a tornado destroyed a house near Beggs, Oklahoma. Authorities reported additional injuries in the area.
Nearby community organizations also activated shelter protocols during the storm. At the Tulsa Dream Center, about 30 fifth- and sixth-grade students took shelter under a stairwell while the tornado passed. According to center director JD Hughes, the building was not damaged, and the students resumed their activities afterward.
Continuing Severe Weather Risk
Meteorologists warned that severe weather risks remained across large areas of the United States heading into the weekend.
The National Weather Service indicated that the threat of additional thunderstorms extended from central Texas to western New York. Potential hazards included flash flooding, damaging winds, and more tornadoes.
According to Jared Guyer, a meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center, the next round of storms was expected to be less intense than the previous system. However, he said the threat remained significant and urged residents to stay prepared.
The highest tornado risk on Saturday was forecast for parts of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Local Response and Community Support
In Union City, local officials began organizing support services shortly after the storm. School administrators set up a temporary support center at a local high school to assist residents affected by the tornado.
The center provides food, personal supplies, restroom access, and assistance coordinating temporary housing with neighbors or local hotels.
Jamie Thomas, principal of Union City Middle School, said donations had already begun arriving from community members and surrounding areas. However, officials said the full scope of the damage and the number of displaced families had not yet been determined.
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