Two Seminole County homes are in need of major repairs Tuesday morning after a giant tree fell on them.
Fire and rescue officials told WFTV they believe Monday's heavy wind and rain caused the tree to snap and topple over.
Dorothy Royson was inside one of the Longwood houses.
"There was a big bolt of lightning and then the house shook," Royson said.
In one bedroom, Royson found a limb coming right through the roof. She said her family was concerned by the aging tree, but could not afford the nearly $2,000 just to have it trimmed.
Royson said the family next door just moved in about a month ago, and their home suffered the most damage, according to fire-rescue officials.
"It was quite frightening, really frightening, and I really didn't get the feel of it until I went outside and look back and saw the tree," Royson said.
No one was hurt.
Royson said the tree hadn't been trimmed, and she's been worrying about it for years.
A tree expert has already taken a look at the tree and found the problem. The tree has Ganoderma, a fungal infection, which is apparent by fungus shelves of mushrooms growing off the limbs.
Tom Stone with Sunstate Trees came to remove the huge tree.
"It was very much an accident waiting to happen," Stone said.
It's a growing problem in a down economy where residents put dying trees on the back burner of spending.
"My experience is people would rather start a fire with a $20 bill than spend it on tree work," Stone said.
Royson worried the tree was dying but didn't have money to take it down, which begs the question: What is a homeowner's liability when something happens?
The answer: not much. Insurance companies only hold homeowners responsible if the tree has been certified in writing to be a danger to the property.
"It was quite frightening, really frightening and I really didn't get the feel of it until I went outside and (looked) back and saw the tree," said Royson.
The frightening sight did plenty of damage. One of the homes is unlivable, but the cost of repairs should be covered by a homeowners' policy.
If a homeowner suspects a tree has a fungal inspection, it's a good idea to call an expert.
"Preventative tree work is absolutely critical to keeping this from happening," Stone said.