Tropical Storm Elsa drops tree on Cumberland woman's new home

Berry-Perez moved to Hope Mills from New York on Wednesday. After spending her first night in the rented duplex on Middle Street, she went out to grab some coffee Thursday morning only to return to find a large branch on the house.

"When I pulled up in the yard, the fire truck pulled right behind me, and I thought the house is on fire," she said.

Firefighters told her the branch knocked down the power line to the duplex.

Flooding, strong winds and downed trees -- detailing Elsa's aftermath

The tropical storm knocked the branch onto the back of the house, smashing part of the back porch and resting on the roof above the bathroom. While it damaged the home's roof, the branch didn't come through the bathroom ceiling.

"There's not too much damage inside. It's basically outside," Berry-Perez said. "The ceiling in the bathroom kind of caved in a little bit."

After one day in the home, she said she's unsure when she'll be able to spend a second day there.

"Duke [Energy] came and cut the power and said it's going to have to be out for a while," she said. "I don't know exactly what's going on."

If a tree falls, who pays to clean it up?

Homeowner Tim Dudley said the branch split from a tree on an adjoining property.

In the meantime, the Red Cross has provided Berry-Perez a voucher for her to stay at a hotel.