By Marc Lostracco

We’re lucky that Toronto doesn’t usually get particularly damaging weather, but this photo by Torontoist Flickr Pool contributor Brian Labelle shows that disaster can strike when you least expect it. This house on Coxwell near Danforth was crushed by an old tree during today’s thunderstorms, which brought high winds, torrential downpours and power outages to much of the city, particularly in the Woodbridge area.
According to CityNews, the homeowner had asked the City to remove the tree on repeated occasions. An elderly man was in the house on the second floor when the devastation occurred, but was pulled to safety with help from neighbours, according to Labelle. “At the time, around 3:18 p.m., my 12-year-old daughter was walking my 4-year-old son down the street,” Labelle told Torontoist. “I ran out of the house and caught up with them, but I was definitely concerned that a branch would fall on us.”