05/18/2026
May 18, 2026
Last night’s severe weather caused widespread damage throughout Emmet County. Agricultural buildings in rural areas were hit especially hard. Every community in the county experienced road closures due to fallen trees and debris.
Residential homes and local businesses also sustained damage. Nearly every town either experienced a complete power outage or had portions of the community without power.
Before the storms entered our area, the National Weather Service, Law Enforcement, Fire Chiefs, and local Mayors were all in communication with the Emmet County Emergency Management Office regarding how information and warnings would be shared throughout the event.
Moments before the severe weather struck, the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management went on duty alongside storm spotters positioned throughout the county. Teams placed themselves in locations that provided the best visibility possible so warnings and updates could quickly be relayed to residents in the storm’s path.
When the storms hit, organized chaos followed across the county. Communication systems are often among the first challenges during severe weather events. Even while working to keep themselves safe, responders were simultaneously communicating with key partners, relaying information to the National Weather Service, and working to alert and protect the public.
Yes, multiple tornadoes touched down throughout Emmet County. Fortunately, they were short-lived due to the speed of the storm system. The majority of the damage appears to have been caused by powerful straight-line winds.
Warnings were repeatedly issued to every community throughout the event in an effort to keep residents safe.
What I want to highlight in this release is not just the damage or the tornadoes themselves, and not even the fact that I returned home to 42 unanswered text messages. What deserves recognition is how quickly and how hard our Law Enforcement agencies, City Works departments, Dispatchers, utility crews, and elected officials worked to restore normal operations.
Law Enforcement personnel drove nearly every roadway in the county identifying hazards and reporting blocked roads. Dispatchers coordinated responses and sent City Works crews to clear debris so roads would be safe and passable by morning. Dispatch also worked directly with major electrical providers to help restore power to communities across the county.
The reason I share this is because the amount of work involved in preparing for an emergency, responding during the event, and managing the aftermath is tremendous.
The people behind that work deserve to be recognized for their dedication and service to our communities.
Thank you to all of our Emmet County partners for your hard work, long hours, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
Below are some photos from last night’s storms. Additional videos will be shared in a separate post.
