LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Two Leesburg homeowners are cleaning up after storms hit Central Florida Saturday night, causing a tree to split in two and crash into a house.
Celeste Lotz, 4, said she had just gone to bed around 8 p.m. when the large tree fell into her home.
“I heard a loud shake and then a big loud boom!” Lotz said.
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Her grandmother, Eloise Sims, rushed into her bedroom.
“I heard a big boom bang like she said and then went in there opened her window and the tree was right there at her window,” Sims said.
Their neighbor’s tree split into two. Half of the tree crashed into Sims’ roof and the other half landed in the middle of Boyle Street.
The large limbs also damaged several cars and a boat.
“It was big and beautiful when it was standing up,” Lotz said.
The Leesburg Fire Department responded to the scene. Firefighters said this happened after Saturday night’s storms hit Central Florida. The department posted pictures showing fire crews using chain saws to cut the tree.
It’s unclear what, specifically, caused the tree to come down. Neighbors told News 6 they didn’t see any lightning at the time.
Sims said she’s grateful no one in either home was hurt.
“If his boat hadn’t been sitting there it would have been through her window,” Sims said. “So, we’re very thankful because it would have been in bed with her.”
The power company turned off electricity to both houses as the homeowners wait for crews to come out and start cleaning up.
Sims is asking for prayers.
“Everybody pray we get our power back,” she said.