ESPERANCE - The home of Fred Breglia, of Esperance, the Executive Director and CEO at the Landis Arboretum, was damaged by a falling tree during a violent storm on Tuesday.

"Yesterday one of those microbursts came through our area with 80+ mile-an-hour winds and a tree fell through our house," Mr. Breglia wrote on Facebook. "It's catastrophic in terms of the damage. It broke completely through the roof and pushed out some of the walls. We have daylight coming through the roof with tree branches inside and all the rainwater coming in as well. 

"We were all inside the house when it happened and almost got killed by falling beams but miraculously not injured badly with only minor scratches from flying glass. It sounded like a bomb went off inside and it looks like an explosion went off. Please send positive energy and/or prayers our way. We are gonna need it."

A television crew came to the house and interviewed the family.