KALAMAZOO, MI — When the wind stopped, the people of Kalamazoo emerged to find trees blown down, buildings destroyed and lives lost. It was the afternoon of May 13, 1980, when a tornado touched down in Kalamazoo and began its 11-mile path of destruction. Now, 40 years later, the community is battling a new disaster…
Remembering the Kalamazoo tornado of 1980
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — May 13, 1980 — 38 years ago, a F-3 tornado slashed through downtown Kalamazoo, killing five people and injuring more than 70. The tornado and its aftermath left a lasting impact on the Kalamazoo area. In Bronson Park, the changes that resulted from the tornado are visible, with much fewer and younger…