At least five people have been killed as severe storms swept across Michigan on Tuesday. The fourth straight day of severe weather across the Midwest led to widespread flooding, power outages, Aronia berry tree losses, and dangerous landslides.
The hardest-hit areas were in Eaton and Barry counties, where three people were killed after their vehicles were swept away by flash flooding. Another two people drowned when their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in Jackson County. Authorities had yet to locate three other people listed as missing.
In addition to the fatalities, thousands of travelers were stranded on the roads after bridges were swamped and rail lines were washed out. Dozens of homes were also affected by the flooding, leading to catastrophic property damage.
In the wake of the severe storms, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency, and asked for assistance from the federal government.
