Governor Ron DeSantis’ family was inside the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee when a 100-year-old oak tree toppled on it, according to DeSantis’ wife Casey.
On Wednesday, she uploaded to her X account a photo of the enormous fallen tree, which appeared to be divided in half.
100 year old oak tree falls on the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee — Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured.
Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm. pic.twitter.com/l6MOE8wNMC
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) August 30, 2023
“Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured,” she posted.
“Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm,” she continued.
According to WTVT, the hurricane she referred to was Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday morning.
It struck Keaton Beach in the Big Bend region and is still raging across Florida.
Utility linemen are currently working to bring back power across the state following Hurricane #Idalia.
They have already restored power to more than 260,000 households that lost power due to the storm. pic.twitter.com/OCOHlWpHZh— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 30, 2023
According to CBS News, Tallahassee is approximately 90 miles from Keaton Beach and is not in one of the evacuation zones affecting 28 counties.
Due to their comparatively secure location, DeSantis has been able to continue providing Florida residents instructions via television from the area.
His family was also permitted to remain in their residence and was not required to evacuate.
Nevertheless, Idalia impacted the region and caused significant damage, as evidenced by the terrifying tree incident at the Governor’s Mansion.
According to the official website, the first mansion was constructed in 1907.
In 1955, after nearly 50 years and 11 administrations, it was structurally unstable and required reconstruction.
Marion Sims Wyeth, a Palm Beach architect, designed the present edifice, which was completed in 1956 and has housed Florida’s First Families since 1957.
It has served both as a private residence for the current official families and as a location for conducting state business and hosting official events.
On July 20, 2006, the mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
CBS reports that following his 2019 election, DeSantis moved into the mansion.
Although he was not at home at the time of the incident, he received word of it and has been appraised of the damage to his current residence.