DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Stone Mountain family is dealing with a big mess after storms early Thursday morning sent a towering tree crashing onto their house.
We first covered the extensive damage on Channel 2 Action News This Morning starting at 4:30 a.m.
A couple was home when a giant pine tree came crashing onto the roof around 2:30 a.m. when a powerful storm blew through the area, Channel 2’s Tom Regan reported.
“There were definitely straight-line winds. You can see that by all the debris on the ground,” said contractor and arborist Jemery Tonjes.
Tonjes told Regan that in this ongoing severe drought and super dry soil, trees can be at greater risk of falling during heavy rain.
“As soon as it starts getting wet, it weakens the root system, and it can affect the structural hold, but with this one, I think it was straight-line winds. The tree was decaying. It might have pine needles in it,” said Tonjes.
The tree toppled from the backyard. The impact smashed some holes in the roof.
A contractor estimated the repairs would be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
“This is very bad. I can see some damage to the rafters, all the way down to the siding. I’m glad no one got hurt. Because someone could definitely get hurt with these types of accidents,” Tonjes said.
Fortunately, the couple inside was not injured. They’re leasing the home, so they’re waiting to hear from the landlord on when they expect someone to come and remove the tree and start making repairs.
Arborists recommend checking trees near homes to make sure they are not in a state of disease and decay, and are at greater risk of falling. They say those trees should be removed.
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