Close call in Gatewood: Long-awaited rain brings big tree down

That photo comes with this report from Gatewood resident and West Seattle Internet business owner Bill Hibler:

This happened at 6:30 this morning. No one was hurt although my wife was pretty shook. The tree landed on the corner of the house where there is a bathroom. She was standing at the sink washing her hands when it hit, immediately causing the ceiling to sag and finally break through. I was upstairs and thought there was either an earthquake (the house shook pretty good) or lightning had just struck about 100 feet from the house causing the one of the loudest thunder claps I’ve heard.

There was NO wind. The root structure was rotten and just the weight of the rain on the very large leaves of a broad-leaf maple caused it to topple.

This is the kind of thing you want to have happen AFTER the West Seattle Garden Tour.

If you want a professional to examine the tree, call Mark Harman of Stonehedge at 206-937-7428.

Stonehedge is a WSB sponsor, we should note. As for the Garden Tour reference, Hibler’s garden was one of those spotlighted in our report during this year’s tour on July 19.

grr August 11, 2009 (10:46 pm)

Holy crap…glad you guys are ok, Bill.

eilis flynn August 12, 2009 (6:39 am)

Yeow! Just talked to Bill a couple of days ago. Hope the missus and the others are recovering from the shock.

jwws August 12, 2009 (9:39 am)

Hey Bill,
Let us know if you need clean-up help/extra chainsaws/tarps. Hope no art glass was destroyed and glad you’re both OK.

baconbutt August 12, 2009 (9:46 am)

Glad you and cats are okay! Definitely an After-the-Tour event :).

The Velvet Bulldog August 12, 2009 (11:10 am)

grr, you took the “Holy Crap!” right outta my mouth. Glad everyone’s ok. I imagine Bill will be chipping that tree up and putting it to good use in the landscape. :-)

TreeNulu August 12, 2009 (11:38 am)

Due to its Steep Slope classification, Bill’s lot is required to get a tree removal permit from DCLU (just like yesterday’s WSB “13 TREES…”)

I have seen Stonehenge often on that Steep Slope, usually after a storm.
I wonder who has been caring for these trees?
With the new tree rules proposed by the city, steep backyards like Hibblers’ become ever more expensive and bureaucratic to maintain.
Thankfully, no one was hurt this time.

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