Jeffersontown family thankful to be alive after tree smashes through home

NOW IN THE STUDIO WITH A SURVIVOR STORY. RANDALL AND RICK. IT WAS MERE INCHES THAT KEPT THIS STORY FROM BEING TRAGIC. A MAMMOTH TREE SNAPPED BY HIGH WINDS, DESTROYING A COUPLE’S HOME. BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE NARROWLY AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY. BOTH ARE NOW DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL SCARS AFTER THAT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE IN THE MEANTIME, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE COMING TO THEIR AID, INCLUDING A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL I HELPED OUT, AUNT KATIE BY GIVING HER $5, A GENEROUS DONATION FROM SIX YEAR OLD MOLLY EUBANK, TO HER AUNT AFTER KATIE RHODES HOUSE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY SUNDAY’S STORMS. RHODES AND HER HUSBAND CHAD, WERE HOME AROUND NOON SUNDAY WHEN A BACKYARD TREE SMASHED INTO THE ROOF AND LANDED IN THE LIVING ROOM. KATIE RHODES SAYS SHE WAS FOLDING LAUNDRY IN HER BEDROOM WHEN A PHONE NOTIFICATION ABOUT 80 MILE AN HOUR WINDS CAUGHT HER ATTENTION WITHIN. IT FELT LIKE SECONDS OF THAT. I COULD HEAR A SOUND OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW THAT I’VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TORNADO COMING TOWARDS US. SECONDS AFTER THAT, THE 60 FOOT TREE HIT THE HOUSE. KATIE YELLED OUT TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM. IT SOUNDED LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF GLASS BREAKING, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE WOODEN TRUSS OF THE HOUSE FRAME CRACKING AS THE TREE CAME DOWN ON HIM IN THE LIVING ROOM, CHAD GOT LUCKY, SUFFERING ONLY MINOR INJURIES. KATIE WASN’T HURT AT ALL, BUT ONLY BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T TAKE COVER IN A BATHROOM, WHICH IS WHERE SHE WAS HEADED WHEN THE STORM HIT IN THE SHOWER. THERE’S A HUGE LIMB. I GUESS THE LENGTH OF ME THAT JUST LOOKS LIKE A SWORD. THAT’S STABBED THROUGH THE SHOWER HEAD. A FRIGHTENING EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE WHICH KATIE SAYS WILL STICK WITH HER. I’M STILL OVERWHELMED BY LIKE, THIS REALLY JUST HAPPENED. AND IT HAPPENED TO US. AND, UM, YEAH, I HAVEN’T REALLY LET ALL THE TEARS OUT JUST YET. THE SILVER LINING IS OUT OF THE WORST SITUATIONS, THE BEST IN PEOPLE EMERGES. KATIE’S SISTER JENNY SET UP A FUNDRAISING PAGE TO PAY THE RHODES INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE. THE $2,500 GOAL HAS ALREADY BEEN MET. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. LIKE THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND OF COURSE, THERE’S ALSO THAT $5 DONATION FROM MOLLY. YEAH, SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO HELP AUNT KATIE’S FUNDRAISER. RIGHT? YES. OH THANK YOU. YOU’RE THE SWEETEST. KATIE RHODES SAYS SHE, HER HUSBAND AND TWO DOGS ARE STAYING IN A HOTEL UNTIL THEY CAN FIND TEMPORARY HOUSING. INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR THAT. AND IT’S A GOOD THING BECAUSE REPAIRS ON THEIR HOUSE IN JEFFERSONTOWN ARE EXPECTED TO

As families across the area grapple with the aftermath of Sunday’s severe storms, one Jefferson County community is counting its blessings after narrowly escaping tragedy. A mammoth tree, uprooted by high winds, crashed through the roof of a family home in Jeffersontown, leaving physical and emotional scars in its wake.Katie Rhodes and her husband were at home around noon on Sunday when disaster struck. A backyard tree, propelled by 80-mile-an-hour winds, smashed into their roof and landed in the living room. The impact was deafening, and Katie recalls the harrowing moments that followed."Within seconds, I could hear a sound outside our window that I’ve never heard before — a tornado coming toward us,” Katie said.Seconds later, the 60-foot tree struck their house. Katie urgently called out to her husband, Chad, who was in the living room. Fortunately, Chad suffered only minor injuries as the wooden truss of the house frame cracked under the weight of the falling tree.Katie’s own escape was equally miraculous. She had been folding laundry in her bedroom when the storm intensified. Instead of seeking shelter in the bathroom, where she was headed, Katie remained in the shower. There, she found herself face-to-face with a massive limb that had impaled the shower head like a sword.“I’m still overwhelmed by the fact that this really happened to us,” Katie said. “I haven’t let all the tears out just yet.”In the midst of tragedy, the best in people emerged. Katie’s sister, Jenny, set up a fundraising page to cover the Rhodes family’s insurance deductible. The goal of $2,500 has already been met, thanks to an outpouring of love and support from the community.And then there’s Molly Eubank, Katie's six-year-old niece with a heart of gold. Molly donated $5 to Aunt Katie’s fundraiser, proving that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference.As repairs on their Jefferson County home are expected to take six to eight months, Katie, her husband, and their two dogs are temporarily staying in a hotel. Insurance will cover the costs, providing a silver lining amid the storm’s devastation.

JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. —

As families across the area grapple with the aftermath of Sunday’s severe storms, one Jefferson County community is counting its blessings after narrowly escaping tragedy.

A mammoth tree, uprooted by high winds, crashed through the roof of a family home in Jeffersontown, leaving physical and emotional scars in its wake.

Katie Rhodes and her husband were at home around noon on Sunday when disaster struck.

A backyard tree, propelled by 80-mile-an-hour winds, smashed into their roof and landed in the living room.

The impact was deafening, and Katie recalls the harrowing moments that followed.

"Within seconds, I could hear a sound outside our window that I’ve never heard before — a tornado coming toward us,” Katie said.

Seconds later, the 60-foot tree struck their house. Katie urgently called out to her husband, Chad, who was in the living room.

Fortunately, Chad suffered only minor injuries as the wooden truss of the house frame cracked under the weight of the falling tree.

Katie’s own escape was equally miraculous.

She had been folding laundry in her bedroom when the storm intensified.

Instead of seeking shelter in the bathroom, where she was headed, Katie remained in the shower.

There, she found herself face-to-face with a massive limb that had impaled the shower head like a sword.

“I’m still overwhelmed by the fact that this really happened to us,” Katie said. “I haven’t let all the tears out just yet.”

In the midst of tragedy, the best in people emerged.

Katie’s sister, Jenny, set up a fundraising page to cover the Rhodes family’s insurance deductible.

The goal of $2,500 has already been met, thanks to an outpouring of love and support from the community.

And then there’s Molly Eubank, Katie's six-year-old niece with a heart of gold.

Molly donated $5 to Aunt Katie’s fundraiser, proving that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference.

As repairs on their Jefferson County home are expected to take six to eight months, Katie, her husband, and their two dogs are temporarily staying in a hotel.

Insurance will cover the costs, providing a silver lining amid the storm’s devastation.

Jeffersontown family thankful to be alive after tree smashes through home

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