PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — Recovery efforts are underway after a powerful storm swept through Northern California this weekend, toppling trees and causing widespread damage.
Among the hardest hit are Nick Ash and Sarah Wood, whose Placer County home was struck by a massive Ponderosa pine.
The couple, who moved into their home in 2019, described the harrowing moment when the 60,000-pound tree came crashing down.
"It was incredibly loud. Like thunder. The loudest thunder I ever heard, and an earthquake all at the same time. The whole house shook," Wood said.
The tree struck their roof during Saturday’s storm, landing directly above a corner bedroom where Wood’s father was staying.
"I ran up there, opened the door, and he’s just standing there," Ash recalled. "With ceiling right above his head, insulation, drywall all over. Just standing there, not knowing what happened."
Wood’s father escaped with only minor injuries, requiring a brief visit to the emergency room.
While relieved that no one was seriously hurt, Ash and Wood are now grappling with the financial and logistical challenges of recovery. Insured under the California FAIR Plan, the couple faces a $5,000 deductible but struggled to get a response from their insurer over the weekend.
"Disasters don’t stop on the weekend," Wood said.
The couple finally made contact with their insurance provider this week, but costs are already mounting. An online fundraiser and support from their neighbors have provided some relief.
"There’s a lot of good feelings going on because of that. We’re super grateful," Ash said.
As they begin to rebuild, Ash and Wood remain hopeful about restoring their home among the towering pines that drew them to the property in the first place.
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