Scores of homes and businesses were heavily damaged by a tornado that touched down in Portland Monday around 2:30 p.m.  The tornado stayed on the ground for ten straight minutes.

Looking over the damage, the count rose to 70 damaged homes, a dozen businesses and at least four churches.  Ionia County declared a state of emergency.

Bridge street remains closed near First Baptist Church due to the possiblity that the steeple may come down.  Engineers are evaluating structural integrity.

As far as volunteering to help, officials say the city has all the help it needs and urge nonresidents to stay away so clean up can continue.  The city has drop off sites for brush at Westside Grocery on West Grand River Avenue as well as on Smith Street.

Here's more from the Lansing State Journal!

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