Employees trapped in a FedEx building in Portage, Michigan, were successfully evacuated after a tornado caused a partial collapse of the building on Tuesday night.
What Happened: As reported by mlive.com, the incident took place late Tuesday night when a tornado hit the area. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed no fatalities from the suspected twin tornadoes that struck the Portage area.
The tornado resulted in non-severe injuries to up to 16 people at the Pavilion Estates mobile home community. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller commended the local police and fire departments for their timely response and cooperation during the storm.
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At the FedEx Corporation FDX building on Portage Road, it was reported that up to 50 people were trapped at one point. However, all individuals were successfully evacuated, and according to a FedEx statement, there were no serious injuries.
FedEx also told Fox News that the company is working on contingency plans to ‘lessen any potential impacts on service.’
Fuller lauded the inter-agency cooperation as a “huge success” in managing the emergency. The American Red Cross is currently providing temporary shelter for those affected.
Why It Matters: This incident underscores the importance of emergency preparedness and inter-agency cooperation in managing crises.
The successful evacuation of the FedEx employees, despite the partial building collapse, is a testament to the effectiveness of the emergency response system in place.
The quick response from local police and fire departments, coupled with the support from the American Red Cross, ensured the safety of those affected by the tornado.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by severe weather conditions and the importance of having robust emergency response strategies in place.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image: Shutterstock
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