A large tree crashed onto a Hillside home on Wilder Street during a nor'easter, damaging the roof, garage and part of the living room. The family inside was not hurt, officials said, though the home lost power and cleanup was still ahead.

A family in Hillside remained in their home after a large tree crashed onto the property on Wilder Street during a nor'easter, damaging the roof, garage and part of the living room and knocking out power.

A husband, wife and their son were inside the house when the tree came down. No injuries were reported.

Strong winds and saturated ground

The tree appears to have been brought down by strong winds and rain-soaked ground during the storm. Large sections of the tree fell onto the home, leaving visible damage across one side of the residence.

The incident added to the disruption caused by the nor'easter, which created hazardous conditions for homeowners dealing with unstable trees, standing water and power outages.

Damage focused on garage and living room

Homeowner Jo-Ann Horton Givens said the tree struck the side of the house containing the garage and part of the living room. She said the bedrooms were not affected.

Givens said there was some interior damage, but not enough to force the family out of the home immediately. That allowed the family to remain on the property while cleanup and inspections moved forward.

Officials say home is safe to remain occupied

Township officials inspected the residence after the crash and determined that the family could continue staying in the home despite the structural damage.

The family was still dealing with a power outage as the assessment continued. A clearer picture of the full extent of the damage is expected once the fallen tree is removed.

Tree removal is the next step

A tree removal company was expected to clear the debris from the house, which will allow the homeowners to better evaluate damage to the roof and structure.

The family also expressed concern about another tree on the property. After periods of heavy rain and strong wind, saturated ground can weaken root support and increase the risk of additional trees becoming unstable.