GAYLORD, Mich. (WWJ) -- A large, destructive tornado touched down in Northern Michigan on Friday, leaving behind near total devastation.
Meteorologist Jim Kaiser with the National Weather Service told WWJ Newsradio 950 that the tornado hit Gaylord at around 3:45 p.m., causing extensive damage to homes and businesses.
Local resident Frank McClellan said he watched from his table at a fast food restaurant as the twister ripped through the shopping center, as well as an RV dealership.
"I was sitting in the Taco Bell, right there on (M-32), and the funnel cloud came right down 32 and for some reason took a turn in the Taco Bell parking lot and hit all the buildings behind us and leveled a bunch of them," McClellan told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.
"Somehow it did not hit us where we were sitting," he said. "...There were explosions coming our way, and then the next thing you know the funnel cloud is right in the parking lot."
McClellan said that's when people in Taco Bell started running, taking cover in the restrooms.
Photos on social media show that much of the shopping complex, including an Aldi store and a Little Caesars, was destroyed.
Gaylord City Councilman Michael Ryan told WWJ that houses in four-block area were wrecked, and pulled off their foundations.
"It said there was a possibility, you know, but all of a sudden my cell phone blew up and it said 'go immediately to the basement'," Ryan told WWJ's Dan Jenkins. "...And we went to the basement; which is a good thing because all of the windows blew out and glass was all over,"
Ryan said there are "multiple severe injuries," but he did not have any details. (Police later confirmed one death and dozens of injuries. UPDATE HERE).
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, the tornado touched down near a Home Depot on the west end of Gaylord, and then moved east. Damage has strewn debris onto nearby roads, including M-32.
Michigan State Police said there were trees and power lines blocking roadways, and troopers and emergency crews were responding.
A shelter is set up at at E-Free Church in Gaylord located at 1649 E. M-32. The Red Cross will also be on site.
Stay with WWJ for the latest on this developing story.
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