LOXLEY, Alabama — As a housekeeper Loxley resident Emma Austin has taken care of many homes and taken care of many children over the last several decades.

But now, Austin, 72, finds herself in need and looking to replace her home after a tree fell through her residence during last weekend’s storms.

Austin and her son Larry, who is disabled after a recent stroke, were both home at around 11 p.m. on Sunday when a wind gust hit a large dead oak tree in their yard, sending it toppling into their home on Pine Street in Loxley.

“We just heard a loud bang, and that was it,” said Austin. The tree landed just inches from where she was sitting, said her daughter Willie Bodiford.

Thanks to quick thinking and able bodied neighbors, Tyrone Steele and Raymond Knight, Austin and her son were both able to escape the home unharmed, Bodiford said.

“By the time I got here, crews from the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department and EMA were already here,” Bodiford said. “I took mama to the hospital to get checked out, but thankfully, everyone was OK.”

But the home, where Austin lived and raised her children and grandchildren since 1956, and just about everything in it was destroyed, Bodiford said.

“We were able to save her washing machine and a dresser from one of the bedrooms,” she said, “but beyond that, we couldn’t even get back in to get their clothes out. We tried to go back in yesterday (last Thursday) but there was sheet rock falling everywhere and we were told not to go back in. It was just too dangerous.”

The Red Cross has been able to help some, Bodiford said, providing Larry Austin with a hotel room to stay in and a few groceries.

While they are still waiting to hear from the insurance company – Austin had limited content insurance contracted through United Insurance Company – Bodiford said it will not be enough to replace her mother’s home.

“We’ll probably have to move a trailer in,” she said.

In the meantime, Austin is splitting time staying with Bodiford and her daughter, Krystal Moore.

The family has an account set up with Regions Bank for monetary donations. They are also accepting donations of furniture, clothing, bedding and other items.

“Anything  people are willing to donate will be most appreciated,” Bodiford said. “She has taken care of so many children through the years.”

Mitchell Sims, director of Baldwin County’s Emergency Management Agency, said the incident appeared to be isolated and no other damage was reported in the area during the weekend’s storms.

“It appears that a gust of wind caused the tree to fall,” he said. “There were no funnel clouds reported in the area and no shear winds that we know of. The tree also appeared to be rotted, which could have also been a contributing factor.”