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Irene Perkins Banks was awake when a large tree hit the front of her porch and living room during the storm early Thursday morning.

“It sounded like the whole house was crashing in. It scared me so bad that I said ‘Lord Jesus help me,’” Banks said.

Banks’ home, at 317 East Congress St., received the worst damage on the street from trees falling. She said all of the damage was on her front porch and rain was coming in during the storm.

“I just thank God I was awake,” she said. “Normally I’m asleep, but God showed favor on me and my grandson, Diante Spiller.”

The tree is on her roof, but did not crash through her ceiling.

“I called my insurance company and they told me to get someone to saw those trees down off the roof as soon as possible,” she said.

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