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A giant oak tree, said to be the oldest living oak in the county, crashed onto Jane Lodato’s home on Wyndham Drive in Portola Valley at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, partially collapsing the roof and outside wall of the bathroom where she was taking a bath.
“The power went off. The house started shaking. It sounded like a bomb went off,” says Ms. Lodato. Despite suffering cuts and abrasions, she dashed into the adjoining bedroom where her sleeping 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, was her first concern. The little girl and her dog, Coco, were unhurt. Grabbing a flashlight, Ms. Lodato raced upstairs for some clothing before help arrived.
The tree took out power and cable lines on the entire street. Across-the-street neighbor George Schiel called 911. Dodging fallen live wires, he came to the Lodatos’ rescue, guiding them safely back to his house.
Two units from the Woodside Fire Protection District and another from Menlo Park were quick to arrive. The firefighters went door to door to tell residents to stay inside while the live wires were down. PG&E crews worked through the night to restore power.
Stacey Gerber drove from Menlo Park to take Sofia and Coco back to her home while Ms. Lodato was taken to Stanford Hospital.
“Stacey couldn’t get onto the street because of the fallen wires,” Ms. Lodato says. “She waited outside in the pouring rain until the ambulance dropped off Sofia and Coco as they took me to the hospital.”
Ms. Lodato was released from emergency care with a few stitches.
Despite her injuries, she says she feels fortunate she and her daughter are safe and that the tree didn’t do further damage. “It could have taken out all three (adjacent) houses. I think we had a guardian angel watching over us,” she says.
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A tree-removal company crew works Monday to haul away a giant oak tree, said to be the oldest living oak in the county, that crashed onto Jane Lodato’s home on Wyndham Drive in Portola Valley the night before, partially collapsing the roof and an outside wall. Almanac photo by Veronica Weber. -
This photo of the fallen oak tree on Wyndham Drive in Portola Valley was taken Sunday evening by Cyndie Pogue.
