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Up North Lowdown

As Michigan's weather shifts, demand is growing for tornado safe rooms

By Ed Ronco
Published June 3, 2026 at 9:07 AM EDT
This screenshot from a video taken by Doug Confer of the Deckerville Fire Department shows a tornado touching down in Deckerville on Saturday. Blindspots in the state’s weather radar network meant meteorologists couldn’t warn residents before the twister struck. (Courtesy of Doug Confer)
Courtesy of Doug Confer
This screenshot from a video taken by Doug Confer of the Deckerville Fire Department shows a tornado touching down in Deckerville on Saturday. Blindspots in the state’s weather radar network meant meteorologists couldn’t warn residents before the twister struck. (Courtesy of Doug Confer)

Last year, you might recall, northern Michigan experienced three tornadoes on the same day. In 2022, Gaylord was hit by a deadly twister.

And southwest Michigan suffered deaths and injuries after tornadoes earlier this year.

What do you do if you live in a home with little shelter, like no basement, or lots of windows? More and more, people are turning to tornado safe rooms.

Bridge Michigan's Nate Miller wrote about the growing trend and talks with the Lowdown about why demand is growing for the shelters.

Producer: Austin Rowlader
Editing: Steve Junker
Music: Blue Dot Sessions

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Ed Ronco
Ed Ronco is IPR's news director and the local host of "Morning Edition."
See stories by Ed Ronco