Man survives tree crashing into home during storms
DORR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A homeowner is lucky to be alive after a tree fell through his roof and crashed into his dining room as tornadoes tore through West Michigan Thursday night.
Harvey Potter has lived on Swansea Street near Wayland for over 25 years. He and his late wife built the house from scratch.
'25 years, you've got things the way you want them, you know?' he told News 8 Sunday.
Thousands remain without power after storm, crews work on restoration
As five tore through West Michigan Thursday evening, Potter was sitting in his dining room as the storms headed his way. He was following along with storm coverage. His home was at the tail end of a dissipating confirmed EF1 tornado, the , which was carrying dangerous winds.
'The power went off,' he recalled. 'So I run downstairs and within two minutes trees start falling. It was noisy, it was really loud.'
As the storm struck, Potter estimates between 20 and 30 trees fell down outside. One of them crashed through his roof and into his dining room, where Potter was sitting just five minutes before.
'Another 50 feet over it would've taken out the whole house really,' he said.
Potter considers himself lucky he made it to safety just in time.
'I just think the good Lord was looking out for me,' he said. 'Gave me the sense enough to get down to the basement before the tree fell.'
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Left behind is a hole in his roof, three destroyed windows and insulation and drywall all over the place. Crews later took a 70-ton crane to pull the tree out of his home.
His backyard remains covered in fallen trees. Many of his belongings from the kitchen and dining room are now packed up in boxes.
Potter does have insurance. An adjustor is coming out Monday to assess the damage.
'That's one thing about insurance,' he said. 'You pay it every year and you wonder, 'Man, this is a lot.' But what I just had happen to me, you're awful happy you have insurance, you know?'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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