Uprooted tree destroys Burnsville man’s home in Dallas Co.

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Strong winds during Wednesday’s severe weather event — blew a tree over and onto the home of a handicapped Dallas County man.

Seventy-seven year old James Hatfield — his granddaughter Ashley — and her 14 month old daughter Bella — are thankful to be alive — after an uprooted tree from some neighboring property — falls onto his mobile home.

“It just fell with such a tremendous fall I just didn’t know what had happened. And when I opened my door to the living room, that’s when I seen the tree,” said Hatfield.

“I hear this gush, like gust of wind. And glass just flew everywhere, and next thing I know there’s a tree in the middle of the house.

The they were inside on opposite ends of the house — when the tree came crashing down.

“I started hollering for my granddaughter. But we couldn’t hear each other. Because that tree was between us and the wind blowing,” Hatfield said.

“That’s not an everyday occurrence, where a tree falls in the middle of your house, and your life could have been taken like that,” said Evans.

They escaped by climbing out the windows of the rooms they were in. Both unaware — if the other was safe.

“Me and him was sitting in the living room talking about nothing was probably going to happen over here. And then not 5 to 10 minutes later, something happened,” said Evans.

“I was literally sitting in the chair that the tree is in right now.”

“But we wind up safe, even though the trailer is totaled,” said Hatfield.

The Red Cross has reached out to provide some assistance to the family.

It could take about a month before the property is cleaned up — and the family’s home can be replaced.