BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
One person was killed after a tree fell on a home in Birmingham, Alabama, overnight.
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According to the Birmingham Fire Department, crews were called after a tree fell on a home in the 1300 block of Monterey Drive in the Spring Lake neighborhood near Huffman. Two people were trapped in the house.
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Jefferson County EMA Director Jim Coker confirmed that one of the people trapped in the home had died. The victim has not been identified at this time.
Family members told WVTM13 the two were brothers.
“His brother came around four in the morning and knocked on the door,” said Orlando Vickers Jr., a neighbor. “He said Beau, his brother, needed help.”
Vickers Jr. lives across the street and rushed to help before first responders even arrived. Vickers Jr. said the brother had fallen into a hole left by the tree and couldn’t get back into the house because the door was locked, which is why he went to get help.
“I see his brother in the bed and he was already laying down,” Vickers Jr. said. “I said Beau, Beau. He didn’t answer.”
Family members say the tree came out of the roots and through her brother’s bedroom.
“We had about 20 family members come into the house just now and they were crying and sobbing and it was just my heart was broken for the family,” Vickers Jr. said. “He was just a great neighbor, a great man.”
The consequences are obvious. The tree was spread around the house and the power lines were downed. Vickers Jr. owns Father & Son Lawn Care and said he wanted to do his part by giving back and helping the family.
“He will really be missed,” Vickers Jr. said. “I told them everything the family needed – whatever. I’m already helping now with the tree my friend is cutting down. I’m about to start now. Whatever they need. It’s just a terrible loss.”
This comes as Hurricane Isaias brought high winds and heavy rain to Alabama overnight, leaving a trail of damage across the state.
Currently, at least two hurricane-related deaths have been confirmed, both due to trees falling on homes. These deaths occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, and Escambia County, Florida.
Another person has died in Escambia County, Florida, according to NBC. The victim was reportedly found in his closed garage, with a generator running inside.
Escambia County Emergency Management
A second Alabama storm-related death occurred in Barbour County, according to the governor’s office. WVTM 13 is working to gather more information about the death.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay up to date on the latest stories with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.
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