Union City Tornado: Michigan Town Recovers From Deadly Storm Damage (March 2026)

Union City, Mich. – The community of Union City is beginning the long process of recovery after a devastating tornado ripped through the area on Friday, March 6th, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming lives in both Union City and neighboring communities. As of Saturday, March 7th, residents were picking up the pieces amidst widespread power outages and significant structural damage.

The Green family, owners of a woodworking business on Broadway Street, the main thoroughfare in downtown Union City, were among those beginning the cleanup. Parents Duane and Dawn swept up broken glass while their children, Duane IV, 9, and Calissa, 11, assisted with dustpans. Duane Green described hearing the tornado “chugging like a train” as it approached, prompting him to seek shelter in the basement of his store.

“When I came out… you could see the storm was going that way,” he said, gesturing northeast. The twister tore the facade from a used car business just a block away and caused extensive window damage to buildings throughout the downtown area.

Green, a volunteer with Samaritan First, a disaster relief organization, was already coordinating efforts to assist those affected. “On our social media page, people are reaching out if they need anything — trees cut off or anything. We’re equipped and ready,” he stated.

The Branch County Sheriff’s Office confirmed three fatalities in the Union Lake area west of Union City, with twelve people injured. Tragically, a 12-year-old boy was also confirmed dead after a tornado struck the Edwardsburg area in Cass County, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Clint Roach reported several injuries in the southern part of his county, near the Indiana state line.

Meteorologist Lonnie Fisher of the National Weather Service Northern Indiana indicated that the area around Union Lake sustained the most significant damage, based on reports from emergency management officials and social media posts. A survey team was dispatched Saturday to assess the extent of the devastation and is expected to release a preliminary report later in the day.

Union City resident Alisha Carr discovered the damage to her home, built in 1869, after returning from work on Friday. A fallen tree had caused damage, but she expressed relief that the impact wasn’t worse. “In the backyard, you can literally see the path of the tornado,” Carr said. “I mean, we just missed it by feet, literally.”

Lillian Andrews, a neighbor of Carr, reported the loss of nearly all the trees on her property and the complete destruction of her garage. She acknowledged the long road to recovery ahead for the small town. “It’s a long process, but we’ll get there,” she said.

Several residents reported hearing tornado sirens before the storm hit. Fourteen-year-old Clayton Stage was playing video games when the sirens sounded, prompting him to look outside and witness the tornado moving across town. “It was huge,” he said. “It sounded like a freight train coming through.”

Union City High School has been transformed into a distribution center, with volunteers providing clothing, food, and other essential supplies to those affected by the storm. Jamie Thomas, principal at Union City Middle School and a leader of the crisis response team, highlighted the outpouring of support from the community. “It’s what small towns are about, they come together,” Thomas said. “We’re managing, and we’re making it happen.”

First Congregational Church also sustained significant damage, with half of its roof collapsing just days before a planned rededication ceremony for its piano. Fortunately, only one person was inside the building at the time and was unharmed. The church’s parsonage remained undamaged.

Cleanup efforts continued throughout Saturday, with professional crews and residents working to clear fallen trees and debris. Power outages remained widespread as crews worked to repair downed lines.