PORTAGE, Mich. – A Portage family has been reunited with their cat after tornados swept through the area and caused significant damage Tuesday, May 7.
The National Weather Service has since confirmed that Michigan’s west side was hit by four tornados.
Portage was one of the worst-hit areas. An EF-2 tornado took out the power, smashed homes and threw trees. EF-1 tornados were confirmed in Union City in Branch County and near Dowagiac in Cass County. The fourth confirmed tornado’s strength has not yet been rated.
Read more: Officials confirm 4 tornadoes hit Michigan -- here’s where and how strong they were
One family in Portage is feeling grateful after their missing cat returned home. Milo had disappeared during the storms and the family, who lost everything, frantically searched for him. They found him hiding inside their destroyed home the next day.
The EF-2 that hit Portage was on the ground for 20 minutes and wreaked havoc on homes and businesses across its 11-mile path.
Related: 4 tornadoes hit Michigan on 60th anniversary of state’s 2nd-deadliest twister