Cass County has declared a Local State of Emergency following this afternoon’s tornado and severe storms. The Local State of Emergency reads as follows:
On March 6, 2026, the County of Cass, Michigan sustained severe damage, loss of property caused by a tornado. As a result of this situation, the following conditions exist:
Per the MEC power outage report, approximately 500 homes have lost power, primarily in the Edwardsburg area. Additionally, there has been widespread damage west of Edwardsburg near Conrad Road, moving just east of M-62. Expected time for power restoration is unknown at this time.
There have been an extensive amount of homes and pole buildings ranging from major damage to destroyed.
Multiple fire departments and the road commission are working on tree removal and road clearing. Additionally, there is a definite need for debris management planning to address the significant aftermath of this incident. The complexity of these challenges requires coordinating and a swift response to restore normalcy and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
Therefore, as the Chief Elected Official of Cass County, in accordance with Section 10 of 1976 PA 390, as amended, I hereby declare that a “state of emergency” exists within our jurisdiction as of March 6, 2026, and that local resources are being utilized to the fullest possible extent. The response and recovery elements of our emergency operations plan have been activated.
