(WWJ) Seven tornadoes hit Michigan's Lower Peninsula during Thursday night's storms, including four in Wayne County, as crews continue to survey the damage.
The following tornadoes have been confirmed by the National Weather Service:
• Ingham County, near Williamston/Livingston County
• Canton, in Wayne County
• Belleville, in Wayne County
• Gibraltar, in Wayne County
• South Rockwood, in Wayne County
• Monroe County, Newport/Frenchtown Twp.
• Kent County, Comstock Park, north of Grand Rapids
The National Weather Service said a deadly EF-2 tornado down touched down near Ingham County's Williamston, with maximum winds speeds around 125 milers per hours, tracking east northeast to I-96. The tornado weakened a bit before hitting Fowlerville in Livingston County, with speeds around of 90 miles per hour.
Near Williamston, trees were blown down and the roof of an adult foster care center collapsed.
While he didn't get a good look at it, resident Ian Ball said he had no doubt it was a tornado.
"It's kinda hard to describe. It was so dark you couldn't see anything, and you just knew that it was really loud, for one," Ball said. "I come around the corner of the house and the winds just hit ya; I mean, 80 miles an hour plus, and I couldn't hear anything. It was quite scary."
Along I-96 in the Williamson area, the powerful winds flipped over 13 semi-trucks along I-96, with 22 more vehicle damaged, according to emergency management officials. One person on the freeway was killed, and three others were injured, officials said.
NWS said the tornado traveled a 10-mile path in Ingham County, and then another 1.3 miles into Livingston County, where it dissipated.
Another confirmed tornado, a weak EF-0, touched down in Canton Thursday night.
NWS said the tornado produced 80 mph winds and touched down just north of Pheasant Run Golf course. The tornado tracked southeast, crossed numerous roads, and then dissipated just north of the Lower River Rouge.
Meena, who lives near where the tornado hit, took cover in her basement.
"When we came out in the morning we saw so many trees down in my subdivision." she said. "Huge evergreens uprooted, a cottonwood tree half down. I have two in my backyard that are gone completely. My house's landscaping has changed today."
There were dozens of trees torn down and uprooted, NWS surveyors said, and a hardwood tree fell on a house.
Another confirmed tornado touched down in Wayne County, west of Belleville, NWS said. The tornado was rated EF-1, with winds up to 90 mph.
The tornado tracked southeast, hitting the Mobile Manor Trailer Park, uprooting trees and peeling siding off homes. It finally dissipated after traveling a 3-mile path, according to surveyors.
Also in Wayne County, NWS confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Gibraltar with maximum winds of 90 mph and a path of 1.4 miles. Trees were uprooted and limbs were snapped, spotters reported..
In Wayne County's Rockwood, NWS said an EF-1 tornado was confirmed in South Rockwood, touching down southwest of Flat Rock, with maximum winds of 105 mph and a path length of 5.4 miles. Again there was a lot of damage to trees and and some to homes, including a roof partially torn off, and damage to a garage door.
There were no injuries reported from any of the tornadoes in Wayne County.
In Kent County's Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids, the NWS has confirmed an EF-1 tornado, with maximum winds of 110 mph and was on the ground for 8.7 miles. NWS crews were out in neighborhoods where power lines were damaged and hundreds of tress were snapped or uprooted.
There was damage to buildings on Alpine Ave. before the tornado dissipated near Rockford High School.
Another tornado was confirmed to have touched town in Monroe County, south of Newport, rated EF-1 with peak winds of 100 mph.
NWS said the tornado tracked southeast to Frenchtown Township, where it hit Frenchtown Villa Mobile Home Park, downing tree limbs and tearing roofs off homes.
Frenchtown Township Fire Chief Wendy Stevens said the tornado did significant damage to about 30 units at the trailer park, where drone footage showed the tornado's destructive path.
"It's displacing some of the families there," Stevens said, speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 on Friday. "A lot of community members (are) coming together to try to get these people taken care of. What had a lo lot of assistance last night from a multitude of fire departments all located around us."
"Our main focus last night was evacuating close to 1a hundred homes, because the gas leaks were so severe," she added.
Stevens said while there are rumors that someone was killed in the trailer park, there were no fatalities in Frenchtown Township with these storms.
Late Friday afternoon, National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Freitag said survey crews were still looking at a couple of additional locations in Metro Detroit, which could bring the total to six or seven when investigations are complete.
Meanwhile, there have been five deaths reported across Michigan as a result of the storms, including the fatality on I-96.
Three people were killed, including two children, in a crash north of Grand Rapids Thursday night when a car hydroplaned in water on the road, according to authorities.
In Lansing, one person was killed when a tree fell onto a home.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne and Monroe counties to help with response and recovery efforts to flooding and damage caused by the severe storms and heavy rain.
“Communities across Michigan were hit hard by torrential downpours and damaging winds,” said Whitmer, in a statement. “This emergency declaration will ensure state resources are available as quickly as possible to help Michiganders in need. I want to thank all the first responders and emergency crews who hard through the night to save lives. We will recover and rebuild together.”
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