UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – Recovery and cleanup efforts are intensifying in Union City today as the community begins grappling with the aftermath of a devastating EF3 tornado that struck Friday evening. Most residents were allowed back into the area for the first time Sunday and began looking through the piles of debris for any personal items the could salvage.
Along the hardest hit areas like Tuttle Road and Prairie Rose Lane near Union Lake, residents and volunteers are using chainsaws and heavy equipment to clear hundreds of downed trees and debris from homes that were reduced to rubble. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for Branch County to accelerate the delivery of state resources and aid to the region.
Union City High School remains a central community resource center, providing shelter, food, and supplies to displaced families.
While local officials reported that search and rescue operations transitioned to recovery over the weekend, the Branch County Sheriff’s Office continues to coordinate with technical teams and K-9 units to ensure all residents are accounted for.
Despite the massive scale of destruction, an outpouring of local support has seen the school’s donation capacity reach its limit as neighbors work house-to-house to assist in the long-term rebuilding process.
Comments