New Hampshire

NH Woman Killed by Tree That Sliced Home in Half During Tropical Storm Isaias

A second woman was trapped in the building but was rescued by emergency crews

By Marc Fortier and Katherine Underwood • •

NBC Universal, Inc.

A woman was killed after a tree crashed onto her New Hampshire apartment building during the height of Tropical Storm Isaias.

A New Hampshire woman is believed to have been killed by a tree that fell on her apartment building during the height of Tuesday's tropical storm.

Conway police said a 60-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment after a tree fell on her apartment building shortly after 7 p.m.

Police said they received a call at 7:15 p.m. from a woman at 655 Kearsarge Road in North Conway reporting that a tree had fallen on her apartment building. The woman said she was trapped inside her basement apartment, one of three apartments in the building.

Emergency crews were able to help the woman escape from her apartment, but then learned a second woman was in a second floor apartment when the tree fell on the building. She was found dead inside her apartment.

NBC10 Boston/NECN
As the storm made its way into New England, several trees were spotted downed on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut by Tuesday afternoon.
The downed trees caused a nearly 45 minute traffic backup.
More downed trees were spotted between Westport and Fairfield on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut.
@SpencerFire1
In Spencer, Massachusetts, the storm brought down trees and wires in the areas of Wilson Street and Paxton Road.
@AuburnMAPolice
In Auburn, Massachusetts, police urged motorists to avoid Millbury Street from the Auburn/Millbury line to Montclair Drive due to a downed tree blocking the roadway.
Upton Police Department
The storm brought a tree down on a house in Upton, Massachusetts, police said. There were no injuries or damage to the inside of the home.
Upton Police Department
Also in Upton, police said East Street was closed at Pond Street due to a downed utility pole across the roadway.
Rehoboth Fire Department
In Rehoboth, Massachusetts, fire officials said they responded to a home after a man was struck by a falling tree in his yard.
Rehoboth Fire Department
The Rehoboth Fire Department had to help the man after he became trapped underneath the tree. It was unclear on the man's condition.
Easton Fire Department
The storm also brought down a tree and wires onto a home in Easton, Massachusetts, fire officials said. No injuries were reported.
@ilamont
Closer to Boston, passengers on the MBTA had to deal with delays when a downed tree blocked the Green Line at Newton Highlands.
Concord Police Department
A tree feel on a home in Concord, Massachusetts.
NBC10 Boston
A large tree crashed onto a pickup truck on Mulberry Street in Leicester, Massachusetts, as Tropical Storm Isaias brought strong winds to the area.
A fallen tree on Avalon Road in Reading, Massachusetts.
Mark Garfinkel/NBC10 Boston
After a heavy line of rain and wind crossed the Boston area, a rainbow formed, over Boston Light.

There is damage all across town, but Conway Fire Chief Patrick Preece said the destruction at the home is, by far, the worst he’s ever seen.

“It’s tough it’s not something you prepare for every day,” he said Wednesday.

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He said the tenant on the main floor didn’t have a chance -- the tree sliced the kitchen in half.

Crews are cleaning up after high winds from Tropical Storm Isaias wreaked havoc across New England, tearing down trees and causing widespread power outages throughout the region.

While authorities withheld the woman's identity, her family arrived at the house Wednesday to collect some of her things and identified the victim as Joyce Roberge. She leaves behind three children whom she adored.

“She was wild and quirky, a seeker of spiritual truth and wisdom… She welcomed everyone to her home, and always made too much food, and insisted you take some home,” their statement said.

Roberge’s neighbors recalled that she was always outside and always smiling.

“It’s really hard to explain. You wonder why these things happen, why it’s happening to her. She was such a nice lady,” Glenda Ciampa said.

“It’s just a terrible shame,” neighbor Bob Drinkhall said.

With heavy hearts, residents of North Conway began to pick up the pieces of a storm that claimed a life, and left a lesson learned the hard way.

“Next time we’ll be taking these warnings very seriously, and prepare, listen to the advice, and get out of the way,” Ciampa said.

Police and rescue personnel remained at the scene for about two hours investigating the incident.

Officials with the National Weather Service surveyed the damage Wednesday morning. They said there was no unusual weather event, just strong winds from a tropical storm.

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