UNION CITY, Mich. — Residents in and around Union City are continuing to search for missing pets days after a tornado tore through parts of Branch County, killing residents, destroying homes and scattering personal belongings for miles.
While much of the focus has been on the lives lost and the extensive damage left behind, neighbors say the storm also took the lives of animals and separated some pets from the families who survived.
Val Rossman, a Union City resident who has lived in the community for about 40 years, she said volunteers have been combing through debris fields and neighborhoods hoping to find animals that may still be alive.
“Last night we were making a sweep still looking for some missing pets,” Rossman said. “There was quite a collection. There were exotic birds in Penny’s house who perished, and there are still a couple cats missing.”
Rossman said neighbors and volunteers began searching shortly after the storm passed Friday night, walking through damaged areas and checking reports of animals spotted around town.
Some pets were found in the hours after the tornado, but others have yet to be located.
“The other priceless thing we don’t think about is the pets,” Rossman said. “Many were found dead, but we’re still hoping some of the missing cats might turn up.”
Rossman said community members have also used social media to help track sightings of animals and reconnect them with owners. It is part of a larger effort to help residents recover whatever pieces of their lives they can after the disaster.
Beyond pets, Rossman said the storm scattered important personal belongings far beyond the immediate damage zone.
Documents and photos from destroyed homes have been discovered miles away, some as far as 18 miles from where they originated.
Rossman recently helped connect a resident with military papers that were found near Marshall after the storm carried debris across the region.
“It was about 18 miles as the crow flies, or as the wind blew,” she said. “When people are out doing spring cleanup or picking up debris, they should look closely. It might not just be trash. It could be something important to someone.”
Neighbors have been sharing posts online asking people across southern Michigan to check papers, photographs and other items they may find along roads or in yards.
Rossman said the goal is simple: return anything meaningful that survived the storm.
“A lot of papers and pictures were lost,” she said. “Those are things people can’t replace.”
The damage in some areas of Union City was so severe that Rossman said it was difficult to imagine anyone surviving inside certain homes.
“When you walk through it, the contents of people’s lives are just strewn around,” she said.
As recovery continues, volunteers have poured into the area to help with cleanup efforts, removing debris, clearing fallen trees and supporting families who lost homes.
Rossman said the outpouring of help has been overwhelming.
“People have come from all over to help,” she said. “Even people who weren’t directly hit have put their lives on hold to help others.”
Among those assisting the community is SPCA of Southwest Michigan, which is reminding residents that preparing pets for emergencies can make a significant difference when severe weather strikes.
Katie Timber, the organization’s executive director, said pet owners should prepare an emergency “go-bag” for animals in case they need to shelter or evacuate quickly.
That kit should include medications, copies of veterinary records, several day’s worth of food and water, bowls, a leash and a recent photograph of the owner with the pet to help prove ownership if animals become separated.
Timber also recommends bringing pets into the safest part of the home during a tornado warning which is typically a small interior room such as a bathroom or closet. Keeping animals secured in carriers or on leashes is also helpful.
Preparation, she said, can help keep pets from running away or becoming lost during chaotic moments when severe weather strikes.
Back in Union City, Rossman said neighbors are still hoping some animals may eventually be found.
Even as the community mourns the lives lost in the storm, she said families are still holding out hope that some of their four-legged companions will make their way home.
“Pets are family,” Rossman said. “People are still hoping for those small miracles.”
