Heartbreaking aerial pictures show the devastation caused by multiple tornados that ripped across Michigan - as locals are told to brace for MORE

Severe storms that barreled through the Midwest and put Michigan through its first tornado emergency destroyed homes, business and injured dozens - and forecasters warn more severe weather is on the way.

Twisters were first reported after dark Tuesday in parts of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, while portions of Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri were also under a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service. 

Crews are working to clean up a mobile home park that was ripped into pieces by the storm in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said more than a dozen mobile homes in Pavilion Township were 'totally destroyed.' At least 16 people, he added, were injured there, though the injuries were not life-threatening.

'The clean-up efforts are tremendous. We're looking at homes throughout this community that are totally gone, they´ve been demolished,' Fuller said.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said more than a dozen mobile homes in Pavilion Township (pictured) were 'totally destroyed'

Homes were completely flipped over and cars were smashed by debris and trees moved by the storm

Crews are working to clean up a mobile home park that was ripped into pieces by the storm in Kalamazoo

Homes were completely flipped over and cars were smashed by debris and trees moved by the storm. 

A home where seven people were living 'is totally on its top,' he said. 'They were able to self-rescue and get somewhere safe and came back today.'

'We found homes in the roadway,' the sheriff said late Tuesday. 'We found homes in neighbors' homes. We found large trees in homes.'

In southwestern Michigan, two reported tornadoes blitzed the city of Portage and an adjacent community Tuesday night, destroying homes and commercial buildings, including a FedEx facility that was ripped apart.

No serious injuries were immediately reported, but city officials said in a news release that the twisters knocked out power to more than 20,000 people. Most of them would be without power until late Wednesday, city officials said.

At one point, about 50 people were trapped inside the FedEx facility because of downed power lines. But company spokesperson Shannon Davis said late Tuesday that 'all team members are safe and accounted for.' 

Multiple homes and businesses were destroyed after a possible tornado touched down in Centreville on Tuesday, St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman told CNN.

Roofs were ripped off and homes flattened 'completely down' by the storm,  Bingaman said.

At least seven homes were destroyed in nearby Branch County, according to Emergency Management Director Tim Miner.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for four counties.

'My heart goes out to all those impacted by tonight´s severe weather in southwest Michigan,' Whitmer said in a message on social media. 'State and local emergency teams are on the ground and working together to assist Michiganders.'

National Weather Service crews were working Wednesday to survey storm damage in several counties in Michigan's southwest Lower Peninsula to determine whether tornadoes touched down in those areas, including the two reported Tuesday night in the city of Portage, said meteorologist Mike Sutton with the weather service´s Grand Rapids office.

Two reported tornadoes blitzed the city of Portage (pictured) and an adjacent community Tuesday night, destroying homes and commercial buildings

A resident walks past uprooted trees near businesses and buildings damaged after a tornado hit the area of Portage

Businesses and buildings are severely damaged after a tornado hit the area of Portage

He said the Grand Rapids office had received a total of 11 reports of tornadoes from storm spotters, emergency managers and the public from late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, but as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, it had not confirmed any tornado touchdowns.

Sutton said it could be a couple days before the storm surveys are completed and he stressed that some of the tornado reports could be duplicate reports passed along by people who saw the same storm.

'It´s quite possible those are multiple reports from the same tornado. The actual number of tornadoes may be lower depending on what they find when they´re out surveying,' he said.

Tuesday's storms came a day after parts of the central United States were battered by heavy rain, strong winds, hail and twisters. Both the Plains and Midwest have been hammered by tornadoes this spring.

Numerous severe thunderstorms are forecasted Wednesday from parts of the mid Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys into the southern Plains, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes, very large to giant hail, and potentially significant damaging winds are possible.

Across the U.S., the entire week is looking stormy. The Midwest and the South are expected to get the brunt of the bad weather through the rest of the week, including in Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis and Cincinnati - cities where more than 21 million people live.