Tree collapses on Long Island home, trapping dozens of cats

A massive 70-year-old tree crashed into a residence on Oakdale Drive in Westbury, Long Island, during intense storms on Monday night. The impact caused significant damage to the home and narrowly missed a resident, a man recovering from a stroke and cancer, who sustained only minor injuries.

While the family managed to escape the structure, approximately 37 foster cats remained trapped within the wreckage. Animal rescue organizations, including rescuers John Debacker, Deb Oliver, and Kathleen Mott-Leslie, have been working to locate and retrieve the animals.

The Town of North Hempstead has declared the home “unsafe to occupy,” noting that entering the building could “put lives at risk.” Officials are currently awaiting an engineer’s report to determine the stability of the structure before allowing rescuers to re-enter and complete the search for the remaining felines.