MUSKEGON, Mich. — A snowbird enjoying his summer back in Muskegon escaped a dangerous storm that swept through West Michigan Tuesday morning.
Brian DeLosh was camping in his tent in Pioneer Park north of Muskegon when the storms started to roll in.
He tuned into 13 ON YOUR SIDE, which was broadcasting live during the Severe Thunderstorm Warning in the area.
"I was watching you guys on TV 13 after the first little wave came through and they said up to 70-80 mile winds. I jumped out of my tent and evacuated just minutes before the second major wave hit," DeLosh said. "My tent was destroyed you guys probably saved my beep thanks for the forecasting."
DeLosh said once he started to hear more claps of thunder, he left his tent and got into his truck to get away from the wooded area.
"It just clicked in my head, to get out. I jumped in my truck and drove down toward the State Park beach, and oh my God you have no idea that was like," he said.
As he was driving along North Scenic Park Drive, he said a tree fell and clipped his truck.
"I'm a snowbird, and I've been through a lot of hurricanes. I'm going to tell you what there were 80-mile-hour winds there for sure," DeLosh said. "It was a hair-raising experience."
After the severe storm passed, he went back to survey the damage at the campground.
He found numerous trees down and damage to campers.
DeLosh said he saw a tree down on a tent and there were campers inside when it came down. No one was hurt, he said.
The National Weather Service is anticipating "considerable" damage from these storms.
Storms knocked out power for more than 145,000 people in Michigan.
In Muskegon County, more than 34,000 Consumers Energy customers are in the dark. That's more than 40% of customers.
Muskegon County Pioneer Park Campground storm damage
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