Sunday, June 4, 2023
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
Ionia County Central Dispatch was not notified of a tornado warning during Monday night’s stormy and windy weather in the area.
Central Dispatch Director Lance Langdon reported during Tuesday’s Ionia County Board of Commissioners meeting that a tornado warning was issued, but Central Dispatch was not notified of it so the emergency response center did not issue an alert.
“I can’t believe my eyes. The devastation from the tornadoes is just unbelievable! How could it happen?”
My adult daughter calls, after the horrible, recent tornadoes. They seem so far away, so unknown — the devastation so gigantic.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday amended a recent state of emergency declaration to include Ionia County which was hit by two tornadoes on June 26, along with extensive rainfall.
Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne County after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding, damaging infrastructure and private property. Huron, Ionia and Washtenaw counties were added to the emergency declaration following the completion of local damage assessments.
Ionia County has declared a state of emergency after being hit by two tornadoes on Saturday, along with ongoing extensive rainfall.
Ionia County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Hodges of Belding declared a state of emergency on Tuesday morning and the county board voted 6-0 on Tuesday afternoon (with Commissioner Karen Banks absent) to extend it for 30 days through July 29. Without the extension, the state of emergency would expire in seven days.
Strong storms over the weekend brought severe weather to the area with two tornadoes, torrential rain and localized flooding.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids confirmed that two tornadoes touched down near Lake Odessa in Ionia County on Saturday afternoon. Numerous buildings sustained damage, but there were no reported injuries.
