EF2 tornado touchdown confirmed on Detroit’s east side; one injured

September 5, 2026

On Thursday afternoon, an EF2 tornado with winds up to 115 mph struck Detroit's lower east side, marking the city's first tornado in nearly three decades. The twister carved a 3. 5-mile path through neighborhoods and Belle Isle over approximately four minutes, causing extensive damage including roughly 80 downed trees, several building collapses, and leaving around 30,000 residents without electricity.

Who is affected

Approximately 30,000 Detroit residents without power
One man injured protecting his infant from a falling tree
Residents of West Village, Islandview, and areas near Mt Elliot and East Vernor
J.D. Givhan, owner of J&G Pallets & Trucking Inc., facing $100,000-$200,000 in estimated damages
Alma Anderson and neighbors on Concord and Charlevoix with property damage
Mike Hollis and residents in Islandview near Field Street surrounded by downed trees
Belle Isle visitors and the Belle Isle Conservancy
More than 250,000 Metro Detroit residents without power by Friday noon
Residents in Lincoln Park and Marysville (also hit by tornadoes)
Homeowners without insurance coverage

What action is being taken

DTE's Storm Response Team with nearly 4,000 members (including more than 1,200 field workers from outside Michigan) are working to restore power
Crews are prioritizing trees blocking major roads or posing health and safety issues
The Fire Department is responding to storm-related incidents including downed wires and structure fires
Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department are inspecting buildings alongside the Fire Department
The National Weather Service is conducting damage surveys
Dozens of volunteers are clearing debris and picking up trash on Belle Isle
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is working on cleanup on Belle Isle
The city is working with departments to provide resources to residents
The city is working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Red Cross to provide immediate relief

Why it matters

This is Detroit's first tornado in nearly 30 years (since 1997), representing a rare and significant weather event for the city. The storm's intensity as an EF2 tornado with 115 mph winds caused widespread infrastructure damage across a 3.5-mile path, affecting essential services like power and transportation with nearly 100 intersections having non-working traffic lights. The extensive damage to old-growth trees, particularly on Belle Isle, represents irreplaceable environmental losses that will take years to recover from, while the economic impact on residents and business owners—particularly those without insurance—could be substantial. The event also highlights vulnerabilities in the city's infrastructure and the community's resilience, as demonstrated by the volunteer response and coordinated emergency services.

What's next

DTE expects to restore 65% of impacted customers by end of day Friday, 90% by end of day Saturday, and the remainder by end of day Sunday
Power restoration in Detroit expected to be complete by the end of the weekend
The city is evaluating the damage and whether to seek aid from the state
Continued building inspections by the Fire Department and Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com