LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for Eaton, Ingham and Livingston counties.

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“This action will ensure we efficiently and effectively distribute state resources to communities in need,” Whitmer said. “Michiganders are tough and we have each other’s backs.”

The emergency declaration comes after county leaders asked for state assistance and financial reimbursement for county and local municipality expenses related to Thursday’s severe storms. Storm response and cleanup efforts are ongoing after seven tornados and severe thunderstorms ripped through the state late Thursday night, destroying homes and businesses, flipping cars on the interstate, and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people.

The storm also played a role in the deaths of five people.