Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declares a state of emergency due to tornadoes in parts of the state

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for areas of Michigan due to the tornadoes that struck the area on Tuesday.

“I have declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties following a severe storm system,” Whitner said on X. “We will work with emergency response teams overnight to monitor and coordinate resources to respond to the situation. “Michigan is strong and together we will rebuild.”

The National Weather Service declared Michigan’s first tornado emergency on record Tuesday as severe weather struck the region.

Multiple tornado warnings were in effect for southeast Michigan Tuesday evening. A tornado emergency was declared for Union City – the first tornado emergency for the state since 1999.

The National Weather Service warned of a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” over Union City at 6:11 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The mayor of Portage, Michigan, near Kalamazoo, said her city suffered “significant damage to both residential and commercial properties” after two tornadoes ripped through the area. Power was out in the area Tuesday evening as fallen trees and lines hampered repairs, she said.

Photos showed severe damage to a FedEx facility in Portage. The company facility there was badly damaged and at least 50 people were inside, officials said. Authorities said there were no reports of serious injuries, and a FedEx representative confirmed late Tuesday evening that all team members were “safe and being accounted for.”

Kalamazoo officials said the Pavilion Estates mobile home park suffered “significant damage” from the storm.

Early Tuesday evening, Whitmer advised people to pay attention to weather warnings.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected by the severe weather in southwest Michigan tonight. Emergency crews are on scene and working to help Michigan residents. “I encourage everyone to continue to monitor severe weather warnings and follow the advice of emergency officials,” she said in a statement to X.

After more than a dozen tornadoes were reported in the Plains on Tuesday night, the tornado threat spread to the Ohio Valley and parts of the southern Great Lakes Tuesday afternoon and evening. About 35 million Americans are in the storm zone, from Chicago to Nashville, Tennessee.

A tornado warning was issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky through Tuesday night. A few tornadoes, damaging gusts up to 70 mph and baseball-sized hail are likely.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged residents to prepare for severe weather — including “potentially significant tornadoes,” flooding, hail and strong winds — that is expected to hit much of the state in the next few days.

“We’ve been through all of this and seen how deadly they can be,” Beshear said during a news conference Tuesday. “That’s why we must take every action now and develop a plan to protect you and your family.”

The latest tornado threat is that at least 20 tornadoes were reported across seven states on Tuesday night.

The hurricanes were reported in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee.

One of the hardest-hit areas of the storm was Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, north of Tulsa. The National Weather Service in Tulsa noted minor EF4 damage near Barnsdall during Tuesday’s tornado survey.

According to Barnsdall Mayor Johnny Kelley, one person was killed and several were injured in Barnsdall. The tornado caused “significant damage.”

“We need a lot of prayers,” Kelley told reporters during a news conference after the tornado.

About 60 to 70 homes in the small town were “completely destroyed,” out of about 350 statewide, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said.

After an initial search, about 25 people were rescued, Kelley said. One person remains missing as another search operation began on Tuesday, he said.

According to Stitt, the missing man was in his trailer talking on the phone with his son just minutes before the tornado struck. Police K-9 units were involved in the search, he said.

“We’re just praying that a miracle happens,” Stitt told reporters during a news conference Tuesday night.

Stitt has declared a state of emergency for several counties in the state due to the storm.

The destructive tornado was the second to hit Barnsdall in recent weeks.

“It’s a devastating blow to people in the community,” Kelley said. “It will be life-changing.”

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, had issued the highest possible severe weather threat warning for multiple intense, widespread tornadoes Monday afternoon and evening.

ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke and Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.