A Greece, New York, homeowner narrowly avoided injury Tuesday night when a large tree crashed onto his home while he was reading in bed, according to News10NBC. The tree came down on a home on Florence Avenue, off Dewey Avenue, around 9:30 p.m. Homeowner Tom Moore said he first heard a crack and thought it might have been thunder.
Not long after that, the bedroom window blew in. Moore said the glass landed on the bed where he had been reading. He had no idea what had happened and thought at first that a car had crashed into the home.
He “jumped out of bed” after the window broke. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt. The damage could have been much worse, since part of the tree went through the roof, the attic, and the bedroom ceiling.
News10NBC returned to the home on Wednesday to look at the damage in daylight. Firefighters and town crews had cleared tree debris from the road and reopened the area to traffic. However, the tree was still across the yard, and the home’s gutters had been ripped from the roof.
How the Tree Damaged the Greece Home
Moore said the tree broke through the bedroom window, and he was still in bed when it happened. The impact sent glass flying onto the bed and broke the entirety of the fixture. In the bedroom, Moore said a piece of wood could be seen sticking down from the attic.
The tree also damaged the roof and ceiling. Moore said it appeared to go through the roof, through the attic, and into the bedroom ceiling, to his assessment. The full report wasn’t clear on the extent of all the structural damage that happened.
What to Do If a Tree Falls on a Home
News10NBC advised homeowners to get out of the area and away from their houses if a tree has fallen. That’s because walls can be unstable, and damaged power or gas lines can become additional hazards. Live wires should be avoided, of course, and anyone nearby should stay at least 50 feet away.
Once everyone is safe, you should call 911. Then work on documenting the damage with photos and videos. Take wider photos to capture the full scene. Close-up photos are good for showing all the additional details. Insurance companies can then provide guidance on repairs, tree removal, and temporary housing if your home isn’t safe anymore.