Survivors Recount Harrowing Tornado Ordeal in Michigan

Residents describe riding out deadly EF3 twister that devastated their neighborhood

Mar. 10, 2026 at 8:48pm

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Residents of Sherwood Township, Michigan, are recounting their harrowing experiences as a powerful EF3 tornado ripped through their neighborhood, killing three of their neighbors. Bruce Kempton hunkered down in his bathtub as the tornado destroyed his home, while John Barone and his girlfriend Theresa Gunn were tossed about inside their mobile home before being pulled from the debris. Across the street, Sandra Hoyt and her husband James were also thrown by the tornado that flattened their lakefront home. The survivors are now grappling with the aftermath, mourning lost neighbors and unsure if they will rebuild.

Why it matters

This tornado serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating power of extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The stories of survival and loss highlight the importance of preparedness, community support, and resilience in the face of natural disasters.

The details

The EF3 tornado, with winds topping 150 mph, tore through the Prairie Rose Lane neighborhood near Union City, Michigan, on Friday, flattening homes and killing three residents: Keri Ann Johnson, William Akers, and Pennie Jo Guthrie. Kempton, Barone, and Gunn all took shelter as the tornado approached, with Kempton riding it out in his bathtub and Barone and Gunn being tossed about inside their mobile home. Across the street, the Hoyts were also thrown by the tornado that destroyed their lakefront home, while their neighbor Frank survived by taking shelter in his fireplace.

  • The tornado struck on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • The residents returned to survey the damage on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Bruce Kempton

A 58-year-old resident of the Prairie Rose Lane neighborhood who took shelter in his bathtub as the tornado destroyed his home of 11 years.

John Barone

A resident of the Prairie Rose Lane neighborhood whose mobile home was tossed by the tornado, with him and his girlfriend Theresa Gunn being pulled from the debris.

Theresa Gunn

Barone's longtime girlfriend, who was in the back bedroom of their mobile home when the tornado struck and was pulled from the debris with several injuries, including seven cracked ribs and a broken ankle.

Sandra Hoyt

A resident of the Prairie Rose Lane neighborhood whose lakefront home was flattened by the tornado, with her and her husband James being thrown by the powerful winds.

Frank

A neighbor of the Hoyts on Prairie Rose Lane who survived the tornado by taking shelter in his fireplace, the only part of his home that remained standing.

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What they’re saying

“I asked the Lord to take me home if it was my time to go and I put it in his hands. He put his hands around me and I made it through. So did most of my neighbors. I can't believe it.”

— Bruce Kempton

“I told her, 'Hurry up and get the hell over here as fast as you can. We've got a tornado coming,' and I'm hanging onto the doorknob of the new addition that was just put on, and I'm hanging onto the doorknob, and it started lifting up the floor and me and everything else, so I just let go of the door, and I said, 'We're going for a ride now; let's see what happens out of this.'”

— John Barone

“It takes your breath, looking at this. My next door neighbor, she got killed and the one across the street, she got killed.”

— John Barone

What’s next

Residents of the Prairie Rose Lane neighborhood will continue the long process of rebuilding and recovering from the devastating tornado, with many unsure if they will return to the area. Local authorities and relief organizations are providing support and resources to assist the community.

The takeaway

This tragic event underscores the importance of tornado preparedness and the need for communities to be resilient in the face of extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The stories of survival and loss also highlight the power of community support and the human spirit in the aftermath of such disasters.