3 killed, 3 hospitalized as tornado hits Michigan town

(AP) — Three people have been killed and three were taken to a hospital after an apparent tornado hit a Michigan town on Friday, authorities said.

Powerful storms have ripped across the state, tearing the roof off a home improvement store, sending parts of a storage building flying and knocking down trees as tornado warnings were issued across the southern part of the state.

The Branch County Sheriff’s Office said there were 12 reported injuries and three deaths after a tornado appeared to have hit the Union Lake area which is about 125 miles (200 km) west of Detroit.

In St. Joseph County, Michigan, next to the Indiana border, the sheriff’s office told residents to “seek shelter immediately” following reports of an unconfirmed tornado, a severe thunderstorm watch and possible winds more than 60 mph (96.6 kph).

“Citizens should anticipate power outages, closed roadways and/or neighborhoods and cellular/internet interruptions,” the office said on Facebook.

At her home near Union City, Lisa Piper can be heard repeatedly yelling out, “Oh my God,” as she films from her back deck a ferocious rotating column of air that appears to be a tornado tear through an section of buildings across the lake from her. As its size grows, pulling large pieces of debris into the a...