Man Leaves Kansas for Michigan, Loses Lake House to EF-3 Tornado

Imagine that you move away from a potentially deadly situation to keep yourself safe from the environment. Then imagine that you still get hit with a potentially deadly situtation hundreds of miles away. Sometimes life has a strange sense of irony. Chris Henke spent years living in Kansas, right in the heart of Tornado Alley. It’s the part of the country where sirens and storm shelters are just part of life. Eventually, he moved here to Michigan.

READ MORE: Rare Late Winter Tornado Threat Near Michigan Border

But somehow, he says he’s had more close calls with tornadoes here than he ever did back in Kansas. And last Friday, one of those storms finally caught up with him.

Where The Union City Tornado Hit Hardest

The EF-3 tornado that tore through Union City slammed into Henke’s home on Tuttle Park Drive along Union Lake based on a report from MLive. It was the kind of place people picture when they talk about retirement. Quiet water. A dock out back. Fishing whenever the mood strikes.

A Dream Retirement Home on Union Lake

Henke and his wife bought the property five years ago with that exact dream in mind. But now parts of the house are simply gone.

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Sections of the roof were ripped away. Walls torn apart. A shed that used to sit in the yard even ended up partially inside his living room. On top of all that, his pontoon boat was tossed into the lake several houses away.

READ MORE: Why Genesee County Tests Tornado Sirens Monthly Starting in March

Upstairs, the roof over the bedroom disappeared, leaving insulation hanging out of the walls and rain soaking everything below.

The Strange Details Tornadoes Leave Behind

But tornadoes have a strange way of leaving little reminders of how random they can be. Like the medicine bottles still sitting on the bathroom counter. Loose change and gift cards scattered across the floor. One bedroom that looks almost untouched.

READ MORE: Historic F-5 Tornado Kills Over 100 Genesee County Residents 

Luckily, Henke and his wife weren’t home when the storm hit, which may be the one small blessing in all of this. He had planned to retire soon and spend his days fishing on Union Lake. Now he’s sorting through what’s left and trying to figure out what comes next.

Union City Neighbors Step Up After the Storm

Around Union City, neighbors have been showing up with food, water, and chainsaws. Because when storms like this hit, the buildings may take the worst of it. But the people around here still show up for each other.