The F5 West Michigan Tornadoes of April 3, 1956

April 3, 1956, southern west-Michigan was struck by multiple tornado's, one of which was an F5. "A documentary focusing on the tornadoes of 3-April-1956 which struck portions of West Michigan. Originally created for the 50th commemorative anniversary of the event on April 3, 2006. Re-mastered November 2011. ©2006, 2011 National Weather Service, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Produced by Blake Naftel and Ernie Ostuno.

Every time I’m out by M-45 and Wilson I just imagine what that must have been like. There wasn’t much out there back then, but today, another one of those in the same place will really leave a mark.

My dad’s family, like many, drove out there the next day to see the utter destruction. I just dont think people around here think it can happen again. Lots of young people live over there now, and have no idea that it did.

The video mentioned the Flint tornado in 1953. I was born in November of that year, but I remember the entire time I was growing up, during tornado season, we would get regular instructions as to what to do if a tornado shows up - what part of the basement was the safest, etc. I grew up being constantly aware of knowing precisely what to do and being afraid of tornadoes.

In 1975, I moved to Texas and even though I was now living in Tornado alley I didn't experience the same type of fear coming from the TV weathermen.

So, what happened in Flint in 1953 had long-lasting effect on the people like a fear that never really went away.

During spring break of 1995, we took the kids to Big Bend. We were driving back and were west of Abilene and noticed some tough clouds ahead. We decided to stop at a KOA campground off the highway and let it all pass so we didn't have to drive through it. We are getting things ready for the evening and making dinner when I heard on the radio that that area had just entered a tornado watch. I remember standing at the sink and saying to myself - "I am in a trailer, in Tornado Alley, during a Tornado Watch. Well, Lordy, this just might be my time."

Whenever I hear of a tornado tearing through a trailer park I always say; "Somebody must not have removed the factory tornado magnet."

While my daughter was attending Florida Christian College in Kissimmee, a tornado touched down in the Ponderosa RV Park across the street, lifted up as it passed over the campus, then touched down again on the other side.

Students were the very first responders, pulling the injured out of the wreckage even as the storm continued to rage. God was at work that day, no question about it.

In the aftermath of the storm, emergency personnel and all the news organizations used the ball fields as their staging areas, and the faculty and students of the school worked with them non-stop for days and days afterwards. When they all pulled out, the ball fields were completely torn up, and a local person volunteered his company’s heavy equipment to restore it to its previous condition.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/ponderosa-rv

It was 1978, I was living in Columbus Ga with my first wife and kids. I was attending a class at a community College across the river in Phenix City Alabama on my GI bill. While in class the lights went out and we were told to brace ourselves because a Tornado was near. After things settled down we all left.

I remember driving home and getting closer and closer to my home. A trailer in a park off the main road that went through town. The closer I got the faster I drove as I saw destruction on one side of the road or the other. As if the Tornado, as they often do, bounced back and forth like it was playing hopscotch with the businesses.

The trailer park I lived in was right off the road, just behind a Shoney’s restaurant that was on the main road. The restaurant was OK, but the used car lot next to it was destroyed. My heart was sinking as I screeched around the corner heading to the park. All my mind could see was destruction and my family gone.

I turned into the park and all the trailers were fine. No damage. My wife just happened to be visiting a friend on the other side of town with my son and two daughters, so even if it hit, they would have survives.

The only damage was a part of a roof that went over a portion of the trailer that jutted out to make the living room wider. I remember thanking God.

A lot of Tornadoes hit Georgia due to all the hurricanes that his and just how the South East weather goes. I used to work at a Rock Quarry at the same time. We would stand on the 90 foot towers at night while doing repairs and see Tornadoes out about 20 miles away or so during storms.

We used to time ourselves to see how fast we could get down if needed. None never hit the quarry, but You have to always be prepared.

O don’t miss Tornadoes. I would rather deal with earthquakes, and blizzards. Tornadoes are one of the most destructive things you can imagine. The force they have, is unimaginable.

To this day my heart get’s heavy as I recall that day I rushed home from college.

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