Gaylord, Michigan tornado injures 44 and kills at least one

At least one person is dead and 44 others injured after a tornado made landfall in Michigan Friday night, state police said.

The twister touched down in Gaylord, Otsego County, just before 3 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service, leaving a devastating path of destruction in its wake.

The death was confirmed to Fox 17 by a spokesman for Munson Healthcare. Patients were rushed to several area hospitals – including Grayling Hospital, McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey and Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Officials have not released details of how the person was killed or how seriously others were injured, the outlet reported.

State police said several homes and businesses were damaged and advised the public to avoid the area as downed power lines block roads.

Golfball-sized hail was also reported in the area, according to Fox News

According to Jim Keysor, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, the city has had no tornadoes in its history.

“This is a very, very rare event for us, and most people who have lived here their entire lives have never experienced a tornado in Gaylord,” Keysor told FOX Weather. “I’m sure people were scared and didn’t know exactly what to do.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pledged to rebuild in a tweet Friday night..

“My heart goes out to the families and small businesses affected by the Gaylord tornado and storm,” she wrote. “To the entire Gaylord community – Michigan is with you. We will do whatever it takes to rebuild.