Awesome Sauce: Applebee's Employee Saves Crew During Tornado
April 10, 2026·3 min
The 'Awesome Sauce' segment of the B-93 Morning Show opens with an introduction of Aubrey McKenzie, a restaurant manager at an Applebee's in Three Rivers, Michigan. The segment establishes that Aubrey has had a fear of storms since childhood, making her actions during the March tornado all the more notable. The day of the tornado started normally — blue skies, a regular Friday shift. Without warning, every phone in the building began sounding emergency alerts simultaneously, and within minutes Aubrey could see the funnel cloud forming outside. Despite her fear, she did not freeze. She immediately identified her role in the building and began moving all staff and guests toward the prep kitchen, a windowless area considered the safest space. Aubrey is heard in an audio quote describing her thought process: she knew what her position was and what she needed to do, and she focused on remaining calm. The hosts note that her voice sounds inherently authoritative and calming even while recounting a high-stress situation. After getting everyone into the kitchen, Aubrey went back outside to do a final sweep of the building. Outside, she found a man parked in a truck with his dog and a young boy waiting alone. She immediately told them to get inside and physically picked up and carried the boy to safety. Seconds after they entered the kitchen, the tornado struck. Glass shattered, debris flew through the building, and the sound was described as similar to a freight train. Every person inside the kitchen — staff, guests, the man, and the boy — was safe. Aubrey has since been called a hero by people in the community. She deflects the label, saying she simply did what needed to be done. The host closes with the observation that courage does not always mean the absence of fear; sometimes it means being terrified and leading anyway. The segment ends by encouraging listeners who are near Three Rivers to stop into the Applebee's and personally thank Aubrey.
