PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) – With temperatures set to drop into the teens this weekend, Brooklyn resident Pamela Boyte said she’s trying not to expect the worst.
“My porch is completely collapsed,” said Boyte. “My kitchen is completely destroyed. It’s like chopsticks in there.”
Boyte was standing in her kitchen on Monday when the cold started to set in.
Then, she heard a cracking sound.
“Next thing I know, the roof collapses inside, and then a whole tree comes in my house,” Boyte said.
Boyte said the tree narrowly missed her when it fell into her home.
Luckily, she was able to go outside and call 911.
“They sent the fire department out, and Dixie (Volunteer Fire Department) ended up coming that night and helping the boys cut the tree off,” Boyte said.
Boyte said she’s disabled, and her home is uninsured.
“I can’t just up and run to a shelter,” said Boyte. “I’ve got my medicine and stuff, you know, my emergency oxygen in case I had to have it.”
Insulation, limbs and parts of the roof are scattered over the area.
Boyte and her son are now confined to one bedroom.
“I lost one heater, but that’s irrelevant,” Boyte said. “At least I’ve got the other one in the bedroom and it’s pretty warm in there.”
Boyte said she’s called the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for assistance.
“They literally hung the phone up and told me Forrest County wasn’t on the list,” said Boyte. “I told them anything would help and that we were freezing.”
Boyte said she was told to contact Forrest County leaders.
“They brought one tarp out,” said Boyte.
WDAM 7 called the Forrest County Emergency Management Agency and was told that they’ve contacted the Southeast Mississippi Disaster Coalition to get Boyte some help.
Boyte said any help would be greatly appreciated as soon as possible.
“There’s nothing I can do to fix that right now,” said Boyte.
If anyone would like to help Pamela Boyte, she can be contacted at (601) 549-2977.
Boyte said if she can’t be reached by phone, she’ll be at home this weekend at 182 Sam Boyte Road in Brooklyn.
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