Tree Crushes Bay Minette Home

Alabama Bay Minette Tropical Storm Fay will soon be a distant memory for many of us but a Bay Minette couple has a constant reminder of her fury.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Tue, August 26, 2008 - 2:52 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, August 26, 2008 - 4:34 pm CST

Tropical Storm Fay will soon be a distant memory for many of us but a Bay Minette couple has a constant reminder of her fury.
A tree crashed through their roof and at least temporarily has left them homeless.
For the last four months, a mobile home has been home for Donnie and Cathy Mitchem. They moved here to be closer to family. Tropical Storm didn't make them feel welcome as she threw a large pine tree on their home. "It sounded like a big old bomb hit. I mean it was bad," says Donnie.
"I wasn't asleep but about 15 minutes," says Cathy, "and I heard something, wham."
The Mitchem's are cleaning the best they can. They've been staying at a hotel in town courtesy of the Red Cross. But that will only last one more night. Eventually they're going to have to come back home.
"I don't think it can be fixed." Cathy Mitchem has her on physical challenges and now this, but she's not giving up. "I want to stay here if the trailer can be salvaged."
That could be a big "if" leaving the Mitchem's without anywhere to go with hurricane season starting to heat up.
The American Red Cross put the Mitchem's up for two nights in a Bay Minette Hotel. Local churches have extended that stay but they expect to return home by the end of the week.

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