Massive tree still inside Sand Springs home nearly a week after storm

Nearly a week after a powerful storm moved through Green Country, a massive tree remains lodged inside a Sand Springs family's home.

“A Tree Crashed Through the House”

It was early Sunday morning when a loud crash jolted the Simmons family awake.

They say they had no warning before the tree came crashing into the kitchen.

“We were all sound asleep Sunday morning, and my son came running upstairs and said, a tree crashed through the house,” Kandice Simmons said.

Damage Revealed after the Sun Comes Up

Kandice says it was still dark when the tree hit, and they had no idea just how serious the situation was until daylight.

“We couldn’t see anything. I didn’t know the extent of the damage until the sun came up," Simmons said.

Her husband, a landscaper, estimates the tree weighs at least 5,000 pounds.

“It Shook the Entire House”

The impact was so strong, Kandice says that the entire house shook.

“I felt the whole house shake. It shook the entire house. It hit so hard," Simmons said.

At the time, five people were inside the home, including Kandice’s daughter-in-law.

“My daughter-in-law was just making coffee in there about 10 minutes earlier, where the tree hit exactly… she would have been crushed,” Simmons said.

A Home Now Open to the Elements—and Wildlife

Days later, the home is still open to the outdoors, and what’s coming in is causing new problems.

“It smells like tree sap… you can hear the raccoons at night rummaging around, and I’ve been seeing large snake skins in there,” Simmons said.

“We live right next to the creek, and so it’s just scary.”

No Power, No Kitchen, No Clear Help

With no electricity on that side of the home, the Simmons family’s kitchen is now nonfunctional.

Kandice’s husband and oldest son were able to remove some of the limbs from the roof, but there’s only so much they can do.

“My husband’s elderly. He’s not really able to do the work himself, so we’re just waiting.”

Lapsed Insurance Leaves the Family in Limbo

As if the damage and danger weren’t enough, the family now faces a financial hurdle—their homeowner's insurance had lapsed.

“I feel pretty helpless right now,” Simmons said.

Holding On to Hope

Despite everything, Kandice says the most important thing is that everyone is okay. Still, the future remains uncertain as they await help and figure out what comes next. The family is hoping to get support through their GoFundMe.