Deadly tornadoes rip through SW Michigan -- what we know

UNION CITY, Mich. – At least four tornadoes touched down in Southwest Michigan on Friday.

Four people died and 12 were injured, making this the deadliest storm since 1980.

Union City was hit the hardest by an EF3 twister. Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.

Here’s what we know so far:

4 killed in storm

Three of the four killed near Union City were in mobile homes during Friday’s storms. One person died just outside the area. The county medical examiner will likely release more information this week.

All four victims have been identified as William Andrew Akers, 63, Keri Ann Johnson, 54, Penni Jo Guthrie, 65, and Silas Anderson, 12.

Twelve people were also injured in the devastating storm.

Tornado damage leaves families devastated

Some families were allowed back in the worst-hit area over the weekend and spoke with Local 4’s Nick Monacelli about what they found.

“When I first walked up to this this morning, I started crying,” said Pam Kohler.

Steve and Pam Kohler said it’s one thing to see this devastation on the news -- it’s another to see it in person.

They, along with Pam’s sister-in-law, Laura Schaible, are from the Ann Arbor and Saline area.

They bought a house in the Union City area two decades ago as a family vacation spot. Fortunately, they were not in the area when Friday’s EF3 tornado ripped through. But their neighbors were.

“He sat right next to the fireplace – watching the news – he said the whole front of his house fell on top of him," said Schaible, talking about her neighbor.

And next to him, another neighbor, who frantically dug through the rubble to get to his wife.

“Frank said he was going through the debris – because his wife was trapped," said Schaible. “But they did rescue her – he said she was fine."

The Branch County Sheriff said stories like that are not uncommon.

“A local business owner that was driving by – took off his suit jacket – helped put pressure on a leg," said Sheriff Fred Blankenship. “Our deputy was first on scene – recovered people from the rubble – a community like this – people are going to stop and help."

Confirmed tornadoes

Damage assessments are still underway, but here is what we know about the four confirmed tornadoes:

The National Weather Service updated the Edwardsburg tornado as an EF1.

They upgraded the wind speeds on the Union City twister to 160 miles per hour, which is just six miles short of becoming an EF4.

Also, a smaller EF0 touched down in Clarendon Township in Calhoun County and an EF2 twister hit Three Rivers in St. Joseph County.

Read more -- > National Weather Service confirms 4 tornadoes in SW Michigan during Friday’s severe weather

Governor’s office questions NWS response

Whitmer’s office is questioning the National Weather Service’s response to Friday’s severe weather.

“The fact that the Service did not issue a tornado watch is troubling, especially with the loss of life in Michigan,” Whitmer’s spokesperson Stacey LaRouche said in a statement. “While tornadoes can be hard to predict, the federal government should investigate whether the failure to issue a watch was related to federal cuts.”

Whitmer surveyed the damage by helicopter in Union City on Sunday.

In a post on X, Whitmer said, “We are working with local partners and making all state resources available to affected communities under the emergency declaration I signed this morning.”

Local 4 is reaching out to the National Weather Service for a response.