A 73-year-old woman was killed while clearing debris at Oakland Manor Assisted Living in Tampa, Florida.
As Hurricane Milton roared through, large branches of a tree crashed down to the ground, leaving debris for staff, including Luisa Santos — the home’s operator — to clean up.
She wanted "to clear all this debris and everything 'cause we have residents walking around,” said Wendy Tantozo, Luisa’s daughter.
Luisa immigrated from the Philippines 20 years ago and had only recently moved to Tampa.
When Hurricane Milton hit Wednesday night, she stayed up to keep the 28 residents with special needs calm during the raging storm.
The next day, on her 73rd birthday, Luisa began cleanup before a tree service arrived because she wanted to make sure the residents were safe, Wendy said.
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“She was so happy. Everybody was greeting her with 'happy birthday,'" her daughter said.
Her husband, Winprito Santos, helped her clear branches when the accident happened.
“One of the branches was hanging and then she keep cutting the lower part, the one that was touching the ground,” Winprito said.
“The tree just fell on top of her,” Wendy added. “It just collapsed.”
Luisa, who was only four-and-a-half feet tall, was instantly crushed under the weight of a large branch.
“I ran inside. I screamed, 'Mamita got hit by a tree. Mamita got hit by a tree,' and everyone came running out here,” said Michelle Kolts, a resident who watched the branch fall.
As loved ones comforted Luisa’s family, a tree-trimming crew arrived to remove and haul away the branch.
Luisa’s death is now a sober reminder of how deadly a hurricane can be, even after the wind, rain and storm surge are gone.
Tampa Police responded to the scene and investigated. They believe Luisa's death was a tragic accident.
“Although the storm has passed, its devastation has tragically taken the life of one of our community members,” said Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our thoughts are with the family as they grieve their loved one.”
This story was originally published by Adam Walser at Scripps News Tampa.
