WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – A large tree fell onto a home rented by 5 SUNY Potsdam students early Tuesday morning, sending a branch through the ceiling and into the living room.
The incident happened around 6 a.m., just days after the students returned from spring break.
“We just heard a loud bang, and then the whole house shook. I came out here and my other roommate – he looked at me and said, ‘Lily, there’s a tree in our living room,’” said Lily Gray, who lives there.
No injuries reported
All five roommates were home when powerful wind gusts snapped the trunk of the tree, causing it to fall onto the house. No one was hurt.
First responders told Gray the outcome could have been worse.
“Ten feet to the left, and it would have landed in my bedroom, which is definitely something scary to think about, especially as a young college student who’s excited to start her career,” Gray said.
The person removing the tree told Gray the incident did not cause structural damage to the home. Gray and her roommates continue to live there.
Dealing with the damage
A tarp covers the damaged section of the roof, and a trash bag stapled to the ceiling covers the hole where the branch entered.
Gray said she had noticed the trees years earlier.
“Two years ago, when we first moved in, I went out back to those trees, and I was like, ‘Dang, those are some tall trees. It would be a real shame if one of those ever fell,’” Gray said.
Gray said her landlord told her a permanent fix will be coming soon.
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