“In Just a Few Seconds…”
An Analysis of the Decisions Made In the Path of an F5 Tornado
Event Overview
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Only F5 tornado in West Michigan
17 killed, 340 Injured, $12 million damage
Worst Natural Disaster in Area History
Three other strong to violent tornadoes
Spring in Michigan, 1956
There were ice and snow
storms the last week of
March, 1956 and 5 inches of
snow fell on April 7, 1956
In between came the worst tornado
outbreak in area history on April 3rd.
Good Friday, March 30, 1956
Saturday, April 7, 1956
Photos courtesy of Joan Mull and Robert Bianchi
These April 3rd Front Page Headlines were a Clue
Plot of Tornado Paths during Outbreak of April 2-3, 1956
Tornado Outbreak on April 2-3, 1956 from Oklahoma to Mississippi and north to
Wisconsin and Michigan produced 40 fatalities and at least 17 tornadoes of F3 or
greater intensity. The Standale/Hudsonville tornado was the strongest and deadliest.
F2 2 deaths 7 inj
Bancroft, WI
F4 2 deaths 24 inj 200 yds wide
Worst damage in Benzie County
F4 7 deaths, 50 inj
Berlin, WI
Hudsonville/Standale F5
F3 12 inj 150yds wide
Bangor to Lowell
F2
F1
F2
F2
F3
Tornadoes in Wisconsin earlier that afternoon killed nine people and
Michigan was put on alert. Schools let out early in Holland and Civil
Defense was notified by 3 pm.
Tornado #1:
12
1. Camp Gray
11
9 10
8
2. Oval Beach beach house
3. Saugatuck Lighthouse
4. Denison Estate
5. James Boyce house
7
6
5
6. Gene Huyser house
7. Joseph Wolf house
8. Rivulet Hurst Dairy
9. Oetman Farm
10. Heetderks Farm
4
11. Genzink house
12. Modder’s Plumbing
2
1
3
Before and After photos of the James Boyce house near Gibson.
Three people escaped with minor injuries.
Aware of threat, talking about the unusual look to the sky. Saw it coming ran for
basement, did not have enough time to get there.
Photos courtesy Jim Boyce and the Saugatuck/Douglas Historical Society
Photos of the tornado as it was passing near Graafschap.
From West 32nd Street looking south
Credit: Jarvin Kleiman, courtesy of Dirk Bloemendaal
Direction of tornado
Hudsonville: New Holland Street: First fatality was here. Only seconds to react. Did not
get to basement. Victim was on second floor.
Direction of tornado
40th and Van Buren: 3 people killed here. 5 year old in basement and two people in
house with no basement. Several people survived by taking shelter in a ditch. F5
damage was done here.
Example of F5 damage: home completely swept away
36th and Port Sheldon: 8 people killed in this area. Two elderly, died in their home.
Two died in a car, trying to flee the storm, drove into it. Four died after leaving their
house to get to the neighbors, hit by flying debris.
28th and Baldwin: Another fatality in this area: 3 year
old in basement, house collapsed into basement
Direction of tornado
Standale, Michigan: One fatality, an elderly, bed-ridden woman on second floor of house.
Standale Business District from the ground
It was after business hours and higher ground allowed for earlier
sighting the tornado approaching.
Photo Credit: Ken Foster, Lou Nichols
Direction of Tornado
Nixon Avenue: NW Grand Rapids
Tornado moving through
NW Grand Rapids
Photo credit: Marvin Bueker,
George Davis
Vinecroft Street: Two fatalities here
One fatality in a house. Family did not have time to get to the basement.
Second fatality in a car, trying to flee the tornado.
4 Mile Road, Comstock Park
The 17th and final fatality was here,
house collapsed, no basement
Photos courtesy of Pat Ykema
Path of Destruction through Walker, Comstock Park and Belmont
Photos courtesy Paul Kovalak
And to Rockford…
Photo Credit: Jack Erickson
A Closer Look
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17 fatalities, over 300 injured
5 killed in houses with a basement (did not get there)
4 killed outside by flying debris
3 killed in houses with no basement
3 killed while fleeing in a car
2 killed in basement (both were small children)
Recurring theme: lack of awareness, not enough time to react, no plan.
Other issues: False optimism, belief that “it can’t happen here”,
Discussion
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How to remedy against complacency?
Must we wait for an historic event?
Eliminating threat versus minimizing threat
When is it safe to drive away?