Man Watching TV Knocked to Ground as Tree Crashes Through Roof

A homeowner said a tree fell onto his Dallas house following a rainstorm Monday night.[[301525461,C]]

Donald Rankins said he was the only person is his house near the intersection of Reed Lane and Malcolm X Boulevard when the tree fell at about 10 p.m.

"I heard a big crash and a board knocked me down on the floor," he said. "I thought it was an earthquake at first. The next thing I know, I see this big hole in my roof."

Rankins had just stood up to turn the television down when the tree hit his house. He said he might have been more badly injured had he not.

"Physically I got a little bruise on my arm [and] a bruise on my head," he said. "But God sure saw me out of that."

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Rankins told NBC 5 the tree destroyed his living room, the side wall and more.

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"I'm praying to God I can come back," he said. "I love the neighborhood. It's a great neighborhood."

NBC 5's Josh Ault contributed to this report.