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Large tree crashes in elderly man's front yard, feet from his bedroom

'I heard the thunder, then the lighting, then I heard something hit the house,' Benny Brown said.

ATLANTA — What should have been a peaceful Easter weekend, turned into chaos for several Metro Atlanta residents.

The heavy winds and rain knocked out power and snapped large trees from their roots like rag dolls.

“I heard the thunder, then the lighting then I heard something hit the house,” said southeast Atlanta resident Benny Brown.

That big bump was a big tree in Brown’s front yard.

The 80-year-old -- who celebrates a birthday next month -- was watching storm coverage in his southeast Atlanta bedroom. He did not think the storm would knock on his front door.

“I thought a limb fell on the house," he said. "I didn’t realize it was a tree until my neighbor called me and told me to look out front."

His car was crushed. Shingles from his roof were damaged, and he does not know if there is a leak in the roof, since there has not been another rainfall.

Brown's grandson was among a steady stream of folks coming by the house to make sure he was okay.

"It's not a large home," Qua Martin said. "He could easily have been impacted. That’s the biggest blessing. The entire front yard is gone."

Brown's water is running and his electricity is on. He says there is one nagging problem -- the large tree that crushed his car.

Brown said he called the insurance company, but says they will not be coming out to get the tree or fix the damage anytime soon.

"When I talked to the insurance company, due to the crisis, everything is closed down," Brown said. "They said they would get back in touch with me and that's it. I haven't heard from them."

Martin said he hopes his granddad hears from the insurance company soon.

"I traveled from Jonesboro, so I've seen a lot of different trees on the ground," Martin said. "I think if they were able to see it; put eyes on it, they would be able to see how severe it is and put a rush on coming out."

Brown has a live-in housekeeper. She uses his car to get his groceries and his other needs taken care of.

MORE HEADLINES | 

Fatal storm sends "double whammy" to NW Georgia

Easter storms sweep across South, killing at least 30

Man dies in Cartersville after tree falls directly into bedroom

EF-1 tornado struck Bartow County late Sunday night

Seven people killed in mobile home park in overnight storms

Storm lifts home off foundation into roadway





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