2, MI– 20

lornajarrettblanchard April 3, 1956

–20 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 995.
–18 18:30 F4
–14 Hudsonville, Ottawa County
— 4 Standale, Kent County
— 2 18:35 F3 Benzie County.
–20 National Centers for Environmental Information. NOAA. Storm Events Database.
— 2 Benzie County 17:55 F4
–14 Ottawa County 17:55 F5
— 4 Kent County 18:15 F5

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “MI Apr 3, 1956 18:30 18k 340 inj 400y…F4.
“Allegan/Ottawa/Kent/Montcalm [counties] – This tornado, which probably produced F5 damage, touched down firAst near Saugatuck and moved NE. After passing south of Holland and Zeeland, the tornado intensified and leveled a large portion of Hudsonville, Ottawa County, causing 14 deaths and 200 injuries. Passing into Kent County, the tornado struck the suburban business community of Standale, west of Grand Rapids, causing four deaths and completely sweeping away businesses and homes, as it did at Hudsonville. Most businesses had closed, thus avoiding a potentially larger death toll. Further to the NE, a large trailer park was destroyed in ‘Comstock Park,’ in the NW part of Grand Rapids. Total damage for the tornado was over $10,000,000. The funnel finally lifted in SW Montcalm County, near Trufant. A total of 332 homes were listed as badly damaged or destroyed.

“MI Apr 3, 1956 18:35 2k 24inj 200y 145m F3
“Manistee/Benzie/Grand Traverse/Leelanau [counties] – This tornado (or family of tornadoes) may have originated over Lake Michigan and ended in Grand Traverse Bay. Thirteen homes were destroyed, along with at least twice that many barns. It moved NE from near Portage Point, doing its worst damage in Benzie County, NW of Thompsonville. A couple died as the second floor was torn off their home. Homes were destroyed at Lake Ann, SE of Solon, and at Cedar Run. A barn was leveled at Bear Lake. $400,000.” (Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 995.)

Sources

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Centers for Environmental Information. NOAA. Storm Events Database. “Search Results for All Counties in Michigan…Tornado…04/03/1956.” Accessed 3-24-2023 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=04&beginDate_dd=03&beginDate_yyyy=1956&endDate_mm=04&endDate_dd=03&endDate_yyyy=1956&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=26%2CMICHIGAN