Tree destroys house, spares two boys

By CHIP TOWERS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kimberly Miles and her husband James had just gotten to a local laundry business when her 12-year-old son Lane called on her cell phone.

A 150-foot high red oak fell due to a violent thunderstorm and crushed the Miles' Powder Springs home around 7 p.m. Sunday night.

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"He said, 'Mom, the house is gone; it fell in on us," Miles recounted Monday morning. "I was like, 'What? What do you mean it's gone?' At first it seemed like a horrible joke."

It wasn't.

A 150-foot high red oak fell due to a violent thunderstorm and crushed the Miles' Powder Springs home around 7 p.m. Sunday night. It destroyed the split-level house — obliterating the kitchen, dining room, master bath, foyer and living room — but somehow missed her two sons, who were sitting on the living-room floor watching SpongeBob SquarePants on television.

Lane, who is almost 13 years old, was babysitting his 2-year-old little brother, Chase.

"[Lane] didn't realize what had happened, he just knew the ceiling had caved in around him," Miles said. "But he did everything he was supposed to. He picked up his brother and tried to get to the front door but couldn't. He finally was able to get out through the garage and ran to a neighbor's house. They said he was covered with sheet rock and insulation when he got there."

Miles said she normally doesn't leave her children alone but had to Sunday because their clothes dryer malfunctioned, leaving her with a pile of wet laundry. Miles and her husband decided to pack it up and take it to a nearby wash center and try to get back within the hour.

"I said, 'Don't go outside, don't answer the door, we'll be right back,' and we left." Miles said. "There was no bad weather at all at the time."

When the Miles returned home they found the roof crushed and the humongous tree leaning precariously over the area where the boys had been sitting. The TV, she said, was still on despite rain pouring in from all directions.

The American Red Cross put up the family last night at a local Comfort Inn. The Miles will meet with their insurance company later Monday to find out what is their next move.

"I feel very lucky that I have my boys," she said. "Both got out and neither one was hurt. That's what matters to me."

Two trees fell on another Powder Springs home overnight, one that was still being renovated from a May 19 fire. In fact, Harry Floyd said construction on a new roof had been just completed last month. He had already spent $80,000 on repairs from the fire.

"The insurance company is going to love to hear that," Floyd said with a laugh.