Fallen Tree Causes Damage on Lincoln Ave.

Jackie Dehnert said that her primary concern was not getting her power back.

"This isn't about having power," Dehnert said. "It's about us being safe."

Part of the tree Dehnerts' home on Lincoln Avenue in Pearl River was blown down at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday morning, striking power lines before landing on their car parked on the street, which was badly damaged.

"We got up at two in the morning to go sleep in the basement," Dehnert said. "My husband was worried about the trees (falling in the storm). My youngest sleeps in the bedroom right by that tree.

"I heard an explosion. The transformer exploded. We could see the tree had fallen."

Orange & Rockland workers came to the site later Sunday. They stabilized the two poles on either side of where the tree hit and made sure the power was cut. They also had a crew come to remove the tree branch from the wires so the Orangetown Highway Department could come to clear the street.

"I'm fine with what has been done to this point. We just want this to be safe," Dehnert said. "The town of Orangetown was wonderful. The Orangetown (Highway Department) crew was courteous, neat and very helpful."

She added that a Verizon representative also came by and was helpful. Verizon shares some of the poles with O&R.

O&R had not been back as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. The company prioritizes repairs based on getting the power back on to as many people as possible and the wire by Dehnert's home was only keeping power from her street. It was a meter reader who realized how dangerous the conditions were and helped get workers to return to the site late Tuesday afternoon.

Dehnert said a big part of her concern was for the young children on the street. She said 35 children live nearby, most of them eight or younger.

"I think O&R didn't realize how bad the damage was," Dehnert said.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lincoln Ave. was closed between Lincoln Avenue Elementary School and Washington Avenue.