Portland residents will mark the one-year anniversary Wednesday of an EF-1 tornado that caused millions in damage to the city.

Residents will gather at the corner of Smith and Bridge streets from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday for a Celebrate Portland service.

The Smith and Bridge streets intersection, or “Church Hill,” is the location of three of the four churches hit by the tornado on June 22, 2015.

The tornado damaged about 132 buildings, causing what officials have estimated at $3.3 million in property damage.

“It’s coming on the one-year anniversary and as a community we’ve been through a lot,” said Rev. Joe Robbe, pastor at Mount Hope Church and president of the local ministerial association.

“It gives people a place to gather and reflect and to see how far we’ve come and to celebrate how far we’ve come.”

Robbe said the ceremony will include music from the Portland Orchestra and the Portland Community Choir.

Lt. Governor Brian Calley, a Portland native, and representatives from the city, businesses and faith communities will speak during the event.

Following the program, some churches and businesses will be open to residents who would like to view improvements at the facilities.

“I’ve been part of Portland for 25 years and I think on a local level this was probably the most impactful thing I’ve experienced,” Robbe said. “It has united us as a community. I think we are stronger and more united as a community than ever before.”

People who attend the event should bring lawn chairs. In the case of inclement weather, the event will take place at the Portland United Methodist Church, 310 East Bridge St.

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (517) 377-1167, eleblanc@gannett.com, or on Twitter @LSJBethLeBlanc.
Photo: Rod Sanford/Lansing State Journal