Tree Smashes into Canton Home

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - Georgia is slammed by an arctic blast for a second day. Heavy winds are not only providing that winter chill but the whipping winds are toppling trees across the metro area.

Much of the night in Sandy Springs crews worked to restore power after wind brought down trees in a community -- plunging some neighborhoods into darkness.

It followed the second straight day where cold windy weather created potentially dangerous conditions.

"They were sleeping in that room close to the air conditioning," said homeowner Julio Autiaga.

For Canton homeowner Julio Autiaga, it meant a close call for his children who were sleeping in an area of his home a short distance away from where a tree toppled onto it.

"I was asleep and I hear something, it sounded like something rolls like rat-a-tat-tat and bam," said Autiaga.

"I heard this smash. And it sounded like a roof was being ripped off someone's house. My mom and I ran outside to see what it was and if he needed to call 911," said neighbor Brandi Cleveland.

Now some of Autiaga's neighbors say they are determined to help the family in any way they can -- insisting that no one should have to go through an ordeal like this -- losing the place they call home.

"It's horrible anytime but especially around the holiday because it's heartbreaking because there's kids in the house and what if it had went elsewhere into the bedroom of the kids and it was awful. It makes me just want to cry," said Cleveland.

Crews restored power to residents in Sandy Springs early Monday moing after strong winds knocked trees onto power lines. Power was out to nearly 400 homes near Mount Paran road Sunday night.

No one was hurt by the tumbling trees.