Tropical Storm Debby rain brings tree down onto a home

TAMPA - A  Tampa family is picking up the pieces, after an oak tree came crashing through their home Saturday afternoon. It happened on Amundson Street, around 2 pm.

Donald Lloyd has lived in the home since the 1970's. Lloyd said, "My wife and I were in our bedroom. My sons were in their bedrooms. We started hearing a bunch of noise and I thought they were just messing around in the house and then it just kept getting louder."

The tree destroyed the living room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Lloyd said, "I'm glad that none of my boys were in the front room for one thing because it's actual branches in that room."

John Masters lives next door and was outside when the tree came down. Masters said, "Just a big boom! You know, more of a crackling sound. It's terrible you know. It's hard to describe because you've known them since they were small and they have been able to buy the house. Now they've got the house to themselves."

Donald Lloyd called a cleanup crew and spent the evening doing all he could to shape up his property. Lloyd said, "You can hear it still creaking right now."

But, that close call wouldn't be his last. During Lloyd's interview with ABC Action News, part of the tree came crashing down, barely missing he and the news crew.

Lloyd says he's lucky no one was hurt. For now, his family is staying with relatives. Donald says people have warned him about the tree, but he couldn't afford to cut it down. He suspects lightning may have caused the tree to fall.