Houston Beryl earthquake aftermath: Man survives as tree crashes into his home, trapping him under rubble on Des Jardines Street

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A southeast Houston man survived after a tree crashed into his home during Hurricane Beryl on Monday.

With a brace around his neck, Jordan Nichols told ABC13 he couldn’t believe he was still alive. He said he was sleeping when the tree fell.

The incident occurred near Des Jardines Street and Hansford Avenue, east of the University of Houston.

Nichols said he fell asleep while monitoring Hurricane Beryl.

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Around 9am, he said he was woken up by a loud noise and then the ceiling collapsed on him.

Moments later, he heard his roommate screaming for help. They were both rescued by firefighters.

“I remember I just kept praying the whole time and I was trying to count to 30 as many times as I could and praying in between,” Nichols told ABC13. “I was like, I know God doesn’t do things by mistake. And I was like, there’s no way I’m still alive under this pressure and nobody’s going to come help me. So I don’t know. It’s just, it’s unreal. I’ve been shaking all day. It’s just, I guess, the adrenaline, even with the medication. I don’t even feel like it’s real.”

Video from the scene shows Nichols’ car still stuck under broken tree branches in front of the house.

He told ABC13 he is staying with his mother as he continues his recovery.

In southeast Texas, five people died Monday from falling trees: three in Harris County and three in Montgomery County. Additionally, a Houston Police Department employee drowned when his vehicle was submerged in floodwaters.

READ MORE: 3 Montgomery County deaths among 5 in Houston area attributed to fallen trees during Beryl