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NATCHEZ — A tree came crashing through a Natchez home, nearly splitting the home in half during a severe thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon.

The house on Adams Circle, located just off of Melrose Montebello Parkway, belongs to restaurant owners Rick and Ann Simons, who own Biscuits & Blues, Planet Thailand and Slick Rick’s Café restaurants in Downtown Natchez.

Ann said fortunately, their children had gone to visit with grandparents right before the storm came through, which had caused a tree to fall right through her 16-year-old son’s bedroom and do damage to much of the home Thursday around 3 p.m.

“We’re lucky the kids were not there. It fell and landed right on my son’s bed,” Ann said.

Rick was sitting in the living room watching TV when the tree fell, causing scratches as well as bad bruising and swelling on his knee. However, X-ray confirmed no broken bones, he said.

“I’ve got pretty limited mobility, but everybody is rallying around us,” Rick said. Both were back working at Biscuits and Blues and Slick Rick’s Café today. Planet Thai closed today for July 4.

“We’re just going day by day,” Ann said.

Though spared from any severe injuries, the damage to the home was extensive, likely displacing the family for months.

The tree crushed the roof on the side of the house where the family sleeps and was so tall and round that it sent branches and debris through the walls of the living room, kitchen and front door on the opposite side of the house.

“We’re hoping to be back in it by December,” Rick said.