Many Homes Damaged as Tornado Rips Through Mich. A tornado ripped through a rural southeastern Michigan community Thursday, damaging or demolishing many homes, downing trees and power lines, sparking fires and flooding neighborhood roads. The slow-moving storm was part of a system packing large hail, heavy rain and high winds. The touchdown was reported in the Dexter and Pinckney areas northwest of Ann Arbor, said Marc Breckenridge, director of Emergency Management for the county. Crews were assessing damage, but in one neighborhood, a home appeared to be flattened while an adjacent home lost most of its roof and second floor. Houses across the street also sustained damage to their roofs and siding. There were unconfirmed reports of tornados touching down in Monroe County's Ida Township and northwest Lapeer County, near Columbiaville, where trees and power lines had been downed, National Weather Service meteorologist Amos Dodson said. The storm packed wind gusts up to 70 mph in Lapeer County and 2-inch hail, he said. "We're getting absolutely hammered," Fire Capt. Jim Hemwall of Monroe County's Frenchtown Township said Thursday night. We have funnel clouds spotted all around us. Debris lies in front of homes in the Meadow View subdivision in Dexter, Mich. after tornado touched down on Thursday evening, March 15, 2012. Hemwall said a house in a town called Exeter was struck by lightning and debris swirled around another in Monroe County's Dundee. No injuries were immediately reported, "but it's early," Hemwall said. All roads into the village of Dexter were closed as darkness fell, with police diverting traffic. Area police and fire agencies were going door-to-door, searching for any injured, Washtenaw County sheriff's spokesman Derrick Jackson said. People needing shelter for the night were directed to a local school. The American Red Cross of Washtenaw and Lenawee Counties was preparing a plan Thursday evening to assist people affected by the storm, spokeswoman Jenni Hawes said. Associated Press writers Corey Williams, Jeff Karoub and David Aguilar reported from Detroit.