Mich., Ohio storms bring flooding, power outages

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Michigan, flooding streets and cutting power to many residents.

Thousands were still without power Thursday night, and Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp. said it could take until Saturday or Sunday to restore electricity to customers in some rural and hard-hit areas.

A lightning strike apparently sparked a structure fire in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, injuring a firefighter, but not seriously.

Rainfall of 5 inches was reported in the Grand Rapids area, and police were dispatched to help motorists whose cars had stalled in flooded streets, The Grand Rapids Press reported.

The storm system also brought heavy rain late Wednesday and early Thursday to parts of Ohio, including Toledo, were 3 1/2 inches fell.

Flooding closed a portion of Interstate 475 in the area for several hours early Thursday.

To the west, authorities said a tornado damaged some farm buildings late Wednesday in Iowa's Benton County, but no one was hurt.

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