A towering tree crashed through a Long Island residence during severe storms on Monday, leaving nearly 36 cats trapped amidst the debris, authorities and reports confirm.
The ancient, 70-year-old tree descended on the Westbury house along Oakdale Drive at approximately 9 p.m. Its fall was especially harrowing, as it narrowly missed Wendy Kimball’s brother. According to WABC, he was napping in bed, recovering from a stroke and battling cancer, when the frightening incident occurred.
“I was incredibly fortunate to have missed the tree by such a small margin, but it did brush against my brother as he slept,” Kimball recounted to the outlet. “My brother, who is dealing with both a stroke and cancer, was in the middle of a nap when this happened.”
Despite the chaos, the family managed a narrow escape from the compromised structure. Kimball’s brother emerged with just minor injuries. However, their feline companions, totaling 37 in number, remained ensnared inside.
Faced with the daunting task of freeing her beloved cats, whom she fosters with dedication, the distressed homeowner reached out to several animal rescue organizations for assistance, according to News12.
Animal rescuer John Debacker, who was assisting in rescuing scores of felines, posted videos and photos while navigating the wreckage of the home as he searched for surviving cats.
Town of North Hempstead spokesperson Umberto Mignardi issued a statement saying that the town has determined that the heavily damaged home is “unsafe to occupy” and that entering it could “put lives at risk.”
“The Town is awaiting an engineer’s report from the homeowners to determine the condition and stability of the structure and what, if any, access can safely be provided,” Mignardi said, according to Patch.
Rescuers Deb Oliver and Kathleen Mott-Leslie arrived on the scene on Monday night and are prepared with carriers and traps as soon as they get the green light to reenter the home, they told News12.
Roughly two dozen of the cats were still in the house after it was deemed unsafe to enter, Debacker said in an update early Tuesday.
Kimball said that she is most worried about her precious felines, especially Yogi and Baby Hope. She even considered removing the old, ill-fated tree but couldn’t bring herself to do so because of its sentimental value.
“The tree that came down was planted by my father, and my mother was a genealogist, and that’s a ‘family tree,’” Kimball told WABC
“Anybody who’s an animal lover would understand that they’re my children, and they’re the reason I get up every day,” she said.
“It’s not our time. And if God wants me to learn a lesson, I’ve learned it. I’m cutting down every other tree.”