An early morning storm in Dearborn turned into a terrifying wake-up call today when a massive tree ripped straight through the roof of a South Highland Street home, injuring a 6-year-old girl who had been sleeping inside.
The family was inside the house as severe overnight storms rolled through the area. One large tree crashed into the attic while another toppled into the front yard, according to relatives and neighbors. The girl’s father and neighbors scrambled to pull away debris and reach the child, then rushed her to a hospital. She is expected to be OK.
The homeowner told WXYZ he heard a “loud thunderous noise” and, in the chaos, could not see his daughter under cement and rubble. He said he spent about 10 minutes “lifting all of it” before the family drove the 6-year-old to the hospital. WXYZ also reported the girl’s 2-year-old sister had been right next to her when the tree came crashing down.
Storm Outlook and What Forecasters Warned
The Storm Prediction Center had placed parts of the region in a day 1 severe outlook as thunderstorms swept across the Midwest, signaling a heightened risk for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. According to the Storm Prediction Center, conditions capable of producing strong gusts and tree-toppling wind were expected as the line of storms tracked east. For families like the one on South Highland Street, those forecast wind hazards turned into very real dangers when mature yard trees failed in the middle of the night.
Damage Patterns and Safety Steps
Recent local coverage shows this was not an isolated scare. In the last several weeks, storms around Metro Detroit have repeatedly knocked trees into homes, displacing families and keeping cleanup crews busy, as ClickOnDetroit documented in May.
The National Weather Service’s safety guidance urges residents to steer clear of downed power lines and other hazards after severe weather. If a downed line creates an immediate danger, its safety pages advise calling 911. Officials also recommend contacting emergency services if you see structural damage that could threaten anyone inside and avoiding reentering buildings that look unstable.
City officials had not immediately released additional information about the Dearborn family’s condition or whether crews were still working at the South Highland Street scene. WXYZ has video of the homeowner describing the moment the tree tore into the house. This story will be updated if authorities release further details.
