A large and violent tornado has caused serious damage on the ground in Union City, Michigan. Reports and pictures have come out showing the widespread damage, but no reports on the number of fatalities.

Officials in St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties will be conducting search efforts, damage assessments and beginning cleanup Saturday.

The governor also announced that the State Emergency Operations Center had been activated to coordinate a statewide response.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in several areas along the path of the tornado in the southwest side of the state.  Cleanup began Saturday after it was announced that at

Union City was among the hardest-hit areas, as the monstrous tornado carved its way through the community, snapping trees, damaging vehicles, ripping roofs off homes and buildings, and completely leveling some structures across the community.

As search and rescue crews concentrated on the devastated area around Union Lake following Friday's violent tornadic weather, Michiganians in nearby Union City began picking up the pieces of the damage littered throughout their homes and businesses.