Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan Governor’s Office is questioning the National Weather Service’s response to Friday’s severe weather that killed four people and injured 12 others.
“The fact that the Service did not issue a tornado watch is troubling, especially with the loss of life in Michigan,” Whitmer’s spokesperson Stacey LaRouche said in a statement. “While tornadoes can be hard to predict, the federal government should investigate whether the failure to issue a watch was related to federal cuts.”
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National Weather Service forecast offices in Northern Indiana and Grand Rapids confirm four separate tornado touchdowns in southwestern Michigan Friday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer surveyed the damage by helicopter in Union City on Sunday.
I’m with the @MichStatePolice surveying the damage from Friday’s tornadoes. We are working with local partners and making all state resources available to affected communities under the emergency declaration I signed this morning. pic.twitter.com/ROIjWpcZec
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) March 8, 2026
In a post on X, Whitmer said: “We are working with local partners and making all state resources available to affected communities under the emergency declaration I signed this morning.”
Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
Local 4 is reaching out to the National Weather Service for a response.