VIRGINIA BEACH (WAVY) — It grew, and then it leaned, and then it fell. A Southern red oak estimated by a tree expert to be at least 100 feet tall struck the home of Ernestine Townsend, 80, on Northgate Drive four weeks ago.

Townsend was shocked, but not surprised.

"My daughter called me and says, 'Mommy, the tree is down," she said. "I knew it was going to happen."

Townsend began sounding the alarm years ago after Hurricane Matthew. The tree sat on her property, but Townsend says work done by city crews along the creek that runs through her back yard put it in jeopardy.

Townsend videoed the tree listing at about a 30-degree angle the day before it fell.

Garrett Forrest, an aptly-named certified arborist and owner of Grateful Tree Service, looked at the downed tree Friday.

"Whenever w

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