A huge portion of a tree on Carolina Drive toppled directly onto an 80-year-old resident during Tuesday’s wind storm but the man climbed out from under the branches unharmed.
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“I couldn’t be better,” said Gary Stonehouse, who was left with nothing by a small scrape on his arm.
“I was out with a leaf bag to pick up the debris from trimming the hedge and heard this loud crack behind me. I didn’t have time to turn around before I was on the ground and the tree was all around me.”
His wife, Carrie Stonehouse, came out of the house to locate the source of the loud sound and screamed when she saw her husband crawling out from underneath the tree.
The tree downed the nearby powerline and yanked the hydro stack and some shingles from the Stonehouse’s roof.
Workers from the fire department, city and hydro company were quick to respond and question how Gary had survived the incident without damage.
A live hydro wire was found just inches from where his head had been and the main branches landed on either side of him.
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The following day, while workers were still on the scene, Gary found he was missing a hearing aid and found it on the grass, right near the downed wire.
“I believe if I had had time to jump, the tree probably would have hit me right on the head and I’d be dead,” Stonehouse said.
“It’s only by the grace of God I’m here.”
The city says workers from operation services and forestry are still clearing away the debris from Tuesday’s storm and have requested that homeowners be patient as they work through a backlog of requests.
Homeowners can report branches and debris that’s blocking roads, sidewalks or trails but are also reminded they can take the same debris to the Mohawk Street landfill if desired.
The landfill is open for drop-off of such debris and yard waste from Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm
Debris that includes branches smaller than four-inches in diameter can be cut, bundled and set out on regular garbage days with other leaf and yard waste.
The city encourages people dealing with their own downed trees to get a qualified company involved, saying chainsaws and overhead tree limbs can be dangerous for those who aren’t trained.
To report a city-owned down tree or debris blocking roads, sidewalks or trails, call 519-759-4150.
@EXPSGamble
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