JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cleanup and damage assessments are underway around parts of Jacksonville after recent storms left a wake of large downed trees.
One Northwest Jacksonville woman whose home and SUV were damaged by a tree this week got some welcome relief Wednesday thanks to a group of volunteers.
No one was hurt when a lightning strike caused a tree to fall on a home rented by Tracy Lucas. But the damage left her feeling overwhelmed, because she didn't have insurance.
But the owner of Full Tree service saw Lucas' plight on Channel 4 News and decided to help by removing the tree for free.
"I spoke with my partner and thought, 'This is something we can do. We can help this lady,'" Robert Hall said.
A group of Hall's employees climbed the giant tree on Wednesday, cutting dangerous branches and piling up the debris, all while having a little fun.
"I was amazed that it didn't do a lot more damage than it did," Hall said. "That's a heavy tree limb that hit her house."
Hall said he is also going to help Lucas repair the damage to the home, but he wants to do more.
"We saw that you were in need, and our heart went out to you," Hall told Lucas. "I noticed that you have your car over there with some damage and you have small children running around, so I'm going to fix your (SUV's) back window, also."
Lucas said she's now feeling relieved after such a scary experience.
"I feel very grateful," she said. "I feel extremely blessed."
"We just want to give back to the community," Hall said. "It's a win-win situation. Whatever we can do, we will."
Homeowners in Brentwood were facing similar problems Wednesday after two very large trees fell on homes Tuesday night during storms. The families in both homes made it out OK, but the damage is extensive.
PHOTOS: Severe storms blow through Duval, St. Johns counties
One of the homes was condemned by the city and the other has a roof that's collapsed.
Monique Burton, the woman in the condemned home on West 23rd Street, said when she left Tuesday for a trip to the grocery store, the sun was shining. But 45 minutes later, a tree was lying across her son's bedroom.
"I got a call from my son. He was real calm, and he said, 'Mom, a tree fell on the house.' I said, 'Are you serious?' because he was so calm. I didn't know what to think," Burton said.
She said fortunately, her two children were not in the room when the tree fell.
"It could have been another way," Burton said. "They were by themselves really, but they were in my room playing video games instead. Thank God they are OK and nobody was hurt."
She said her landlord has set her up in a different home with her sons for now.
Just two blocks away on West 21st Street, a large tree uprooted and crashed into the roof of a home.
Calvin Martin, who lives next door, had his damaged, also.
"We knew something was wrong because of all the loud noise; because it shook this house," Martin said. "It jarred it like a bomb or something hit it."
Martin said the family of five in the neighboring home made it out safely, and his house escaped major damage, but a few holes here and there are causing the roof to leak. He said he's been in the home for 41 years.
"I've raised my kids here, and my grandkids have grown up here," Martin said. "It means a lot."
Burton said she really needs help and doesn't know where to turn. Her children lost clothing and shoes, and she's afraid she won't be able to get by.
To help Burton's family, email News4Jax reporter Heather Leigh at hleigh@wjxt.com or newstips@news4jax.com or call 904-399-4000.
Residents who have any structural damage from the recent storms should be sure to contact their insurance companies. They can help connect residents to a local contractor for repairs.