GAYLORD, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer declaring a state of emergency for Otsego County in Northern Michigan after a tornado ripped through the city of Gaylord on Friday, May 20, just before 4 p.m., causing widespread damage to homes, business, trees, and power lines.
Authorities confirming that two people were killed and another 44 injured who were taken to hospitals throughout the region. Consumers Energy reporting around 14,000 power outages from the storm with most predicted to be fixed by the end of the weekend.
“My heart goes out to the families and small businesses impacted by the tornado and severe weather in Gaylord,” said Whitmer. “I have declared a state of emergency for Otsego County to rush resources to the affected areas, and the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate our state’s response. Our state is grateful for the first responders and utility workers who are working hard to keep everyone safe. Michiganders are tough. We are resilient. And there’s no challenge we can’t get through together.”
By declaring a state of emergency, Governor Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated area. The declaration authorizes the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what MSP/EMHSD has already been doing in conjunction with local agencies.
Otsego County has declared a local state of emergency. The declaration of a local state of emergency activates local emergency response and recovery plans. By requesting a governor’s declaration, the county has determined local resources are insufficient to address the situation and state assistance is required to protect the health, safety and property to lessen or avert the threat of a crisis.
And just how strong was that tornado? The U.S. National Weather Service rated it as an EF3, with an EF5 being the most catastrophic classification.
Weather experts say the maximum winds of the tornado on Friday were 150 mph, and that it was on the ground for a total of 20 minutes.
It touched down in Antrim County 6 miles south of Elmira and had a path length of 16.6 miles and a width of 200 yards.
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