March 7, 2026 ~ Multiple tornadoes tore across Southwest Michigan Friday, leaving at least four people dead, dozens injured, and entire communities facing a long recovery after widespread devastation. The Branch County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Union City in Branch County suffered the greatest loss of life, with three fatalities and 12 injuries, In Cass County, officials reported one additional death and several injuries after a tornado touched down near Edwardsburg.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated Michigan’s Emergency Operations Center, which is monitoring developments and preparing for additional response needs throughout the weekend.
Social media users shared videos of a twister causing damage in the Three Rivers area in St. Joseph County, including ripping the roof off a Menards store, pulling apart a storage unit and lifting a car in the parking lot of a strip mall along US-131.
Local authorities and the American Red Cross are coordinating shelter support for displaced residents. Utility crews, emergency responders, and volunteers continue to move debris, restore power, and assess structural damage. Photo credit to © Dan Cherry/Special for Sturgis Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK.
