Michigan lawmakers question lack of warning about June tornado
Three Michigan congressmen said they asked the National Weather Service why there was no warning before a deadly tornado hit Livonia on June 5.
U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) sent a letter on Monday to Richard Spinrad, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, asking for answers about why the National Weather Service did not issue a warning about the tornado that killed a Livonia boy and injured his mother, a statement said.
“We write to express our deep concern about the recent tornado and extreme weather in Michigan that has resulted in tragic loss of life and severe damage to our communities,” the group’s letter said. “As reported, a tornado struck without warning from the National Weather Service, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
In the letter, MEPs said emergency alerts during natural disasters are crucial and enable people to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families.
“The lack of warning in this case raises questions about current warning systems and their effectiveness in rapidly evolving situations,” their letter said.
In a statement, the three said they wanted answers from Spinrad about why the weather service was unable to detect and warn about the tornado, what protocols apply for issuing a tornado warning and how the agency plans to improve its system for detecting tornadoes and warning communities and residents about them.
Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington DC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
A few days after the tornado touched down in Livonia, city officials said it was moving so quickly that there was no time to activate the city’s emergency notification system.
The tornado generated wind speeds of up to 153 km/h and ripped an 8.8 km long path through the city.
Cooper Christopher Drake, 3, was killed and his mother, Corinne, injured after the tornado toppled a tree onto Cooper’s home in the 14000 block of Houghton Street. Cooper’s 2-week-old sibling and grandmother were also in the house when the tornado hit but were not injured, officials said.
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