NORTH MUSKEGON, Mich. — 13 ON YOUR SIDE Meteorologist Samantha Jacques was at Pioneer Park in Muskegon County after severe storms battered West Michigan early Tuesday morning. She said damage to the campgrounds was "expansive." The storms began around 5:30 a.m. and campers only had moments to respond to the 70 mph wind.
"About 5 this morning we were, you know, both sleeping off and on because you could hear the rain and the wind," said camper Rich Holcomb. "And all of a sudden the whole inside of the tent just expanded and you heard this massive whoosh and the tent started to collapse."
His wife Patti said the tent first collapsed on her side, she was able to get his attention so he moved, narrowly escaping a tree that fell onto their tent and his pillow.
Holcomb stood next to a tree lying over their tent and explained, "This is where my head was," he said. "I could feel the tree on my shoulder as I was sliding out of the cot."
The couple was able to climb out of the tent without injury. However, they then were left wondering where their family was. To the side of their tent, all you could see were fallen branches. That's where their family reunion was taking place.
Holcomb's brother's tent was surrounded by fallen trees and branches. However, miraculously nobody was hurt.
"It was the hand of God," Holcomb said of his family's narrow escape.
RELATED: Tent camper at Muskegon County Pioneer Park evacuates moments before severe storms slam campground
Another couple at the campground was also there for festivities. Kirk and Heather Sweet were celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary when they woke up to a very different morning.
"It was probably about what, 5:30 in the morning, and I was sitting in the camper looking out the side window and I could see the trees kind of bending sideways," said Kirk.
"I made a comment like, 'I hope a tree doesn't fall on our camper,'" Heather said.
"And then we heard the crack," added Kirk.
He said he was lodged down onto the floor of their camper by something that had hit him. A large branch had fallen on their camper. He said he remained calm and called out to his wife to make sure she was okay.
Once the couple realized they were both okay they turned their attention to the third occupant of their camper, a year-old puppy.
"She wouldn't come, she was scared, she was shivering," said Heather. "I literally just kind of grabbed her collar and I thought, well, 'If I injure her this way it's going to be better than her, you know, being in that trailer.'"
The couple left in the pouring rain. Heather said they prayed the whole drive for safe roads in order to get home safely to check on their kids.
The couple said the experience was traumatic. However, they're just happy to be alive.
"Possessions can be replaced," said Heather.
Nobody camping was seriously injured.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.