As of the time of this article’s publication, there have been no reported fatalities and also no significant injuries reported at the FedEx facility. Drone footage capturing the extent of the damage at the FedEx facility is available for viewing here.

MORE NEWS: UPDATE: Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Releases More Information On Deadly Incident

Numerous additional incidents of damage to businesses, apartments, and homes across the city have surfaced in media reports and on social media, leading to the displacement of many residents.

Some displaced Portage residents have told the news media that they’ll stay with relatives and others will go to hotels at least for a little while. We reached out to a few hotels in the Portage area who were open – but they said they were already booked for Wednesday due to the tornado and reservations made before the bad weather hit.

Emergency shelter set up at Portland church.

Although two emergency shelters had originally been in the works to be set up on Tuesday night, it was decided that there would be one main location for the sheltering of residents needing assistance which is the Kalamazoo First Assembly of God on Oakland Drive in Portage.

Michigan News Source talked with Lead Pastor Marty Breithaupt at First Assembly of God whole told us that the Red Cross is running the shelter at the facility. He said the phone at the church has been ringing off the hook, saying “The response has been tremendous for the help.” When asked by the Red Cross if the church would be an emergency shelter, the pastor said they were “100% yes.”

The church was able to house families who needed immediate help on Tuesday and other needs are being assessed. In addition to the supplies offered by the Red Cross, the church also has their own food and clothing pantry that the displaced homeowners will be able to utilize. Pastor Marty said the people in the most need appear to be those from the mobile home park who have lost their homes or needed to be evacuated until it’s safe to go back.

Others reach out to offer help to the community.

The West Portage Little League also reached out on Facebook on Tuesday evening saying, “Tonight, we experienced a scary tornado that ripped through our community and left families without power, homes destroyed, and businesses crushed. Now it’s our time to come together as a community and lend a helping hand where we can. Along with our friends at several local Little Leagues, we will be canceling tomorrow’s games on 5/8 to band together and help.”

Offering help to the community, they said, “If you need help cutting trees, moving brush, or anything else you can think of, please post your address and tools you think we should bring in the comments and we will try and organize people to help out as long as it is safe to do so. We will be following the city of Portage guidance on travel restrictions, but hopefully those will be lifted by tomorrow afternoon and into the evening. If you are apart of our West Portage community and want to help out with resources or your big muscles, please reach out. Let’s come together!!”

Businesses are helping out too. One Well Brewing opened up at 9 am on Wednesday for people who need space, power or internet, with staff there at 3 pm. Michelle’s, which serves breakfast and lunch

and does catering was open early in the morning on Wednesday for anyone needing food or power to charge their phone.

Pets getting help too.

There have been numerous individuals on social media offering their help including the Otsego dog boarding and daycare business “ My Best Friends Inn.” Posting Tuesday night, they said, “As the aftermath of the local tornadoes unfolds I know a lot of folks will need help. First and foremost I want to thank the first responders who have shown up to the all county call. Anyone who is helping with the efforts to restore order and safety in Portage and the surrounding counties, reach out if you need help. We will help however we can, no questions asked, no charge. If you have lost power or your home was damaged please reach out and we will help however we can. Please share this to whatever groups you think might need help with pets. I know the damage so far is much worse than any one realizes. And I pray that we get through this without any loss of life. Thank you, James.”

Dog found alive in mobile home park, reunited with family members.

On a Kalamazoo County Lost and Found Facebook page, it was reported that a senior dog was found by a neighbor Emily Wycoff after the tornado hit the dog’s home in the mobile home park where its owners had to be rescued.

The owner’s daughter, Amantha Dougherty, said to the person who found the dog, “Ty so much for helping my mom’s dog she is very thankful wiggles is at my house with his brother zippy waiting for my mom and dad to get home from the hospital they lost everything today and had to be pulled out from underneath there house thankfully they are alive and well and have been admitted in the hospital it’s nice to know her dogs were able to make unharmed.”

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to call 269-488-8911 for non-emergency calls and 211 for shelter and human service resources. Portage residents should call 269-329-4444 for city service information including brush pick up and clean-up assistance.