One dead, more than 40 injured as Michigan tornado causes 'catastrophic' damage - CNN

Michigan State Police said the number of injured is 44.

The city is under a curfew until 8 a.m., officials said.

The tornado hit the area about 3:48 p.m., weather officials said.

"It is a busy downtown area, and it went right through it," Gorno told CNN.

"We don't have sirens like in other parts of the country."

According to the state's website, Michigan averages just 15 tornadoes per year.

Gaylord council member Jordan Awrey said some establishments and businesses in the area now look like they'd "never been there."

"The town is devastated," said Awrey, adding he is confident his community will be able to come together and rebuild.

The council member's brother, Gabe Awrey, was driving home when the tornado hit.

"The building directly to the west of us, their whole roof blew onto our property."

Witness describes seeing and hearing the twister

Video taken by Gaylord resident Brandon Smith shows debris being tossed in the air after the tornado touched down.

Smith said he received a tornado alert on his phone and he went outside to see where it was.

"I looked outside and didn't see too much going on and minutes after that alert went off I looked over the other side of the house and that's when I saw it coming over the trees," he said.

Smith, who estimates he was maybe a quarter of a mile from the tornado, described it sounding like a freight train.