2024 PORTAGE MICHIGAN TORNADO - Full Path 4k Drone Tracking Flight

On May 7th, 2024, a high end rain shrouded EF-2 ripped through the City of Portage and neighboring areas.
This video was filmed with a drone, from start to finish along the path of destruction from the tornado. Due to the fact that the tornado crossed over an active runway, it was not possible to follow the exact path of damage in that area.
Additionally, the Kalamazoo Airport operates under Class D airspace, the restrictions of which increase the closer one gets to the airport - which is why the altitude of the drone incrementally decreases from 400 feet at the beginning of the video, down to 50 feet, and gradually back up to 400 feet towards the end of the video.
All of the footage along the path of the tornado was shot in small segments, in order to comply with FAA sUAS line of site operation regulations, as well as avoiding operations over human beings and operations over moving vehicles.
Injuries from the storm were minimal, and miraculously, no one was killed.
Several other tornadoes touched down in Michigan that evening.
The National Weather Service produced a damage survey with the following information about the tornado:
Rating: EF-2
Max Winds: 135 MPH
Max Width: 300 Yards
Path Length: 11 Miles
Time on Ground: 22 Minutes (5:55PM - 6:17PM)
Filmed on May 11th, 2024, with a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone.
All federal, state, and local laws were followed in the production of this video.
For use or business inquiries, please contact:
Caleb Staufer
[e-mail]

[@jasparewilson897]

Awesome footage. Well done. I’ve lived in this town my whole life. 46 years. So sad to see a part of my city in this condition. Especially the celery flats and the neighborhood adjacent to it. My childhood stomping grounds. I love my city. And we will be okay, in due time…

[@stauferaerial]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. In due time, yes, we will recover. The landscape in some areas is so different now!

[@MBrown-qw4ei]

Awesome footage! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for since the tornado!👍👍

[@stauferaerial]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it! Feel free to share it - we've heard several people looking for just this type of video.

[@daveparker7207]

Best I have seen! Good Job!

[@stauferaerial]

Thank you very much, Dave!
We do our best!

[@Crispy1320]

It's crazy to see where my home used to be in Pavillion Estates until that day. I lost everything and I was home alone at the time. I'm thankful my friends and family were okay😢

[@stauferaerial]

So glad you made it through alive! Prayers for you and your neighbors as you recover and rebuild.

[@tornadotrx]

Excellent work here guys.

[@stauferaerial]

Much appreciated!

[@lnyenhuis3765]

Very beautiful footage. I've lived in Michigan all of my 60 years. Never been to Portage, it's quite gorgeous.

[@stauferaerial]

Thank you! It is a very nice area - and it is rebounding as quickly as possible after the storm.

[@SteveC84]

I grew up in Schoolcraft. Portage was the place to goto hangout. All of my family and friends live in the area and it missed them all. This was bad but also a reminder to us that tornados arent a joke. Always watch your forecast. If you know it might get bad and a storm is appproaching, check for alerts. Have a NOAA radio on hand. There are cheap walkies that have access that. Or a weather radio itself. We are not immune to tornados in Michigan. And we can get even larger tornados. EF5 are possible. End of rant

[@AndyDennison1092]

I see me and my coworkers starting @17:39 lol

[@notinmanitou]

Great video, would be better if the location was labeled, so we would know what streets we are looking at.

[@stauferaerial]

Sorry about that part!

[@h.a.n.na17]

SEEMS LIKE MOBILE HOMES ARE THE FIRST TO GO COMPARED TO HOUSES AND APARTMENTS.

[@stauferaerial]

They are indeed - due to the fact that they are lighter and weaker than typical timber framed homes.
They are the last place you should seek shelter in during a tornado, but many had no choice.