(New Buffalo, MI) - A family in New Buffalo has been forced out of their home significantly damaged by a huge pine tree that fell during Tuesday night’s powerful storm.

 

Kelley Perkins of 12366 Lubke Road said her residence is not livable right now because of the large branches that went through the front of the large house near New Buffalo Elementary School.

 

Perkins said a pizza she ordered had just been delivered moments before the heavy rain and extremely high wind storm hit.  It wasn’t long before she heard a tree in her front yard crash against the front of her house.

 

Tree branches also came through into the kitchen, living room and a few other areas of the residence.

 

“I saw this tree branch and water was pouring in and then the wind was picking up,” she said.

 

Fortunately, she and her mother, Anna, along with her two daughters, Sophia, 10, and Kora, 7, were not injured.

 

Her other daughter, Brianna, 24, was working at the Harbor Grand Hotel near the lakefront at the time.  For now, the family is staying at the hotel at no charge at the insistence of owner Robert Kemper.

 

They could be there for a while due to the extent of the damage and not having insurance to cover the expected costly repairs.

 

Brianna said relatives in places like Texas and Illinois are reaching out to them with offers to help.

 

“We’re just trying to get our ducks in a row,” she said.

 

Perkins said she tried getting insurance on the house she purchased several years ago but no company would offer her a policy unless the aging shingles on the roof were replaced.

 

However, she couldn’t afford the $40,000 or more to have a new roof put on it with her finances strained after purchasing the home.

 

“Obviously, life happens so, now, we have a problem,” she said.

 

Nevertheless, Perkins said she’s counting her blessings.

 

“I could have lost my life or my children’s life.  A house can be replaced but not your family,” she said.