Update 9:30 a.m.
The Associated Press reports more than 100 homes were severely damaged and 13 homes were destroyed in last night's F3 tornado in Dexter.
It appears people were warned in time. Miraculously, there have been no reports of serious injuries or deaths.
From the Associated Press:
Initial estimates indicate the tornado that hit Dexter, northwest of Ann Arbor, Thursday evening was packing winds of around 135 mph, National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag said Friday. He said it was on the ground for about a half hour and plowed a path about 10 miles long.
Dexter firefighter Dave Wisley told the Dexter Leader there are multiple gas leaks reported, but no fires have been reported.
The Red Cross reports officials are assessing affected neighborhoods this morning.
Two shelters have been set up in the wake of last night's storms to provide health services, mental health services, food, water and basic needs.
- For those affected by the tornado in Dexter the shelter is at the Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter. The school is located at 7305 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd.
- For those affected by flooding at the Park Place Apartments in Ann Arbor a second shelter in Ann Arbor has been set up. This shelter is at the Salvation Army at 100 Arbana Drive in Ann Arbor.
AnnArbor.com reports on power outages in Dexter:
An estimated 4,000 homes were without power this morning in Washtenaw County, most of them in the Dexter area.
Paul Ganz, regional manager for DTE Energy, said it was an "all-out call-out.''
"Dexter is a priority today,'' he said.
10:39 p.m.
Michigan Radio's Jennifer Guerra traveled to the Huron Farms neighborhood, where dozens of houses were damaged by the tornado: roofs torn off, siding blown into the street, whole walls missing.
Some houses were completely destroyed, reduced to nothing more than a heaping pile of wood.
Monica Waidley and her family were among the lucky ones. She says the tornado didn’t touch their house:
"We were in the basement watching things fly through the air out of our backdoor; peoples’ lives landing in our backyards, it was really scary."
The Waidleys were visiting their friend, Vicki Shieck, who also lives in the neighborhood. Shieck says she was "down in the basement, doing the tornado tuck" when the tornado hit. Her house was spared, with just a little bit of window and roof damage.
Shieck says the tornado "literally went kitty corner" between her and her neighbors' house, before it careened up the path and destroyed nearby houses.
Residents were seen leaving the neighborhood with suitcases, some carrying whatever valuables they could.
There have been no reports that anyone was injured or killed.
9:15 p.m.
A powerful tornado touched down in Dexter, Michigan at 5:33 p.m. Thursday evening.
The tornado demolished homes and damaged many others, uprooting trees and power lines.
It appears that no one was seriously injured or killed.
There were also reports of funnel clouds in Northfield Township and Saline, but trained spotters did not report any actual tornados.
Michigan Radio's Zoe Clark traveled to the scene and reported seeing homes with roofs and exterior walls stripped off.
The Detroit Free Press reports that at least 50 homes are damaged:
...with roofs torn off, walls missing and interior rooms now exposed in Dexter. Debris litters the neighborhood. Insulation from houses float in large puddles in the streets and yard.
AnnArbor.com reports the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department says so far, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported:
Police and rescuers are searching door to door to confirm that, spokesman Derrick Jackson said in an e-mailed message.
A shelter has been set up at Mill Creek School and people who need shelter can go there, he said. People who have power were advised to stay in their homes.
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