New Homeowners Get an Unwelcome Welcoming Gift

Just four days after moving into their new Shoreland Avenue home, Katie and Nick Hansen received an unpleasant welcome to the neighborhood Wednesday night.

Amidst 60 mph winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms, the Hansens were tearing down wallpaper in the second floor of their new home near Shoreland and Birch Avenues when, at about 9:30 p.m., they heard a large crash of thunder that took down the heavy Maple tree in their neighbor's yard, crushing the Hansen's backyard garage and damaging the car inside of it.

"We heard the crash, and then the lights went off for a second then turned back on," Nick said. "Then we came outside and saw this."

"It was a nice welcoming present," he said with a laugh.

Previously living in the Juneau Town area of Milwaukee's downtown, the young couple had just moved into their new Whitefish Bay house Saturday. The fallen tree not only crushed the garage, but it also damaged the car inside. Their insurance company hasn't given them a damage amount for either the garage or the car, but they could see the car was damaged through the cracked garage window.

While most people would probably still be fuming from Mother Nature's punishment, Hansen said he was just glad nobody was hurt and the home itself was untouched.