Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Severe Storms blast southern Michigan, leave many without
power
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 30, 2011 6:31 a.m. EDT
Storm 'sounded like a freight train'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Some 29,000 are without power in Calhoun County, Michigan
* Severe weather hit Battle Creek's business and residential
area, emergency director says
* 450 flights were canceled in Chicago
(CNN) -- Severe storms pounded south-central Michigan Sunday,
knocking out power to more than 100,000 customers and cutting a
path of destruction through the city of Battle Creek, officials
said.
"The storms hit our business corridor and residential area the
hardest," said Mike McKenzie, Battle Creek's emergency services
director. "There are numerous trees on houses and cars, widespread
power outages and a lot of businesses damaged."
The severe weather hit Battle Creek late Sunday afternoon, kicking
up winds in excess of 80 mph, according to McKenzie, who said no
major injuries had been reported.
In Calhoun County, where Battle Creek is located, some 29,000
customers of Consumers Power were without electricity late Sunday,
company spokesman Jay Jacobs said. Throughout the states, 104,000
customers of the utility were without power.
Severe weather also raked the Chicago area, forcing the
cancellation of 450 flights, according to a media official at
O'Hare International Airport.
CNN's Rick Martin and Greg Morrison contributed to this report