ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Clean-up got underway Friday across metro Atlanta following storms Thursday. The storms brought down trees and power lines and even lead to a few fires.
A falling tree stopped just centimeters from crushing a DeKalb County man and his elderly aunt inside a home on Mendell Circle.
"It was like the whole world was coming to an end," explained David Howard.
Howard said he and his aunt had just arrived home Thursday night. They were in their living room when they heard a horrific crash. They looked up to see large limbs protruding through their ceiling.
"It (the tree) almost hit her in the head, and it kind of hit me in the back, kind of knocked me over on her," said Howard.
Both were sore Friday but did not receive serious injuries.
Large limbs can be seen hanging from the ceiling in two bedrooms, the living room, and a hallway. Insulation and debris cover the floors.
Howard says his aunt rents the home but has lived there for nearly 30 years. He said Friday he didn't know what they were going to do, but he said it was amazing they weren't killed.
"I'm alive; that's the most important thing. I'm alive," said Howard.
In nearby Dunwoody, DeKalb County crews scrambled to clear a massive tree from blocking the roadway on North Peachtree Road at Tilly Mill Thursday evening.
Dunwoody police had to redirect traffic in the area for more than three hours.
Just up the street at Peachtree Road and Saffron, a large branch fell from a resident's yard, blocking the road. The homeowner told CBS Atlanta News they lost power for close to two hours.
The damage from Thursday's storms wasn't limited to downed trees.
In the Powders Springs area of Cobb County, firefighters responded to a house fire in the 5600 block of Kitties Court, off Millers Pond Lane.
Lt. Dale Townley said the house was hit by lightning.
"When we arrived, the fire was showing from the roof and fairly heavy smoke," said Townley.
The fire was extinguished quickly. Emergency crews said the fire damage was minimal, but the water used to put it out left behind a big mess.
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported.
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