(LANSING) - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has activated the State Emergency Operations Center following severe storms and tornadoes that caused damage and deaths in southwest Michigan.
State officials say the storms produced at least two confirmed tornadoes and caused significant wind damage in Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties.
The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division reports the center has been activated at Level 3, a monitoring status, to coordinate response efforts.
Emergency personnel are working with local officials and private sector partners to respond to resource requests.
District coordinators from the state emergency management division have also been deployed to assist local emergency operations centers in the affected areas.
Videos from Three Rivers and Union City showed tornadoes touching down and leaving behind damaged homes, businesses, and debris as recovery efforts continue.