Raleigh tree falls, damaging 2 homes and four cars near Millbrook Road; man says he’s glad no one was hurt

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Clean up is underway at a home in northeast Raleigh near Millbrook and Falls of Neuse roads after a tree fell during storms.

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The tree was one of several that fell in Wake County, including one to the north that fell on a home and left a man dead, and another that fell across Millbrook Road, closing it between Six Forks Road and Farley Drive.

The 90-foot tree fell on Tuesday night, damaging two neighboring homes and four cars off Country Court, just feet from Falls of Neuse Road.

The homeowner, Jerry Lancaster, and his wife were home at the time.  He said they heard strong winds outside around 9:30 p.m., followed by what sounded like windows being blown out and a loud boom.

“There was no rain, no noise, just the windows blown out. Before we could even get up, the tree came across the roof and toward the one end of the house,” said Lancaster.

Jerry Lancaster said he and his wife planted this tree in 1978, and it was a neighborhood staple.

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“We planted it the day we moved in. It was maybe two feet tall and that was 48 years ago. We watered and nourished it all for decades,” he said.

Here is a photo of Jerry’s wife and daughter next to the tree in 1985.

“My parents have lived here my whole life. I am 44 now, and this was a house I came home from the hospital in,” said Blake Benton, Jerry’s daughter.

Benton said she is heartbroken to see both the tree and her childhood home damaged.

“The whole wall is sucked out on one side of the house, and the attic is exposed. There are drywall, sheetrock, and insulation hanging from the attic. There is at least an eight-by-ten hole in the side of the house,” said Benton.

The fallen tree damaged this home, the one next door, and four cars in total. Lancaster said he has two elderly neighbors, and he is thankful no one was injured.

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