Don and Cheri Mitton were following Tuesday's crippling windstorm on TV from the comforts of their Post Falls home when the news came to them via the roof and ceiling.

The top of a ponderosa pine snapped and pierced multiple places in the ceilings and walls of their home on East 19th Street.

"We heard a loud noise, then branches came through our ceiling," Cheri said. "It was surreal. We're just lucky that it missed us. My brain is still trying to process it."

The branches created an unwanted skylight in their hallway, knocked out the alarm system on the wall and broke through the living room ceiling, dropping insulation, pine cones and needles and other debris on the floor.

"No more pine needles to rake up," Mitton said, referring to the tree that will be totally taken out now.

A tree service company inspected the damage in the dark and told the Mittons they would be safe with the tree on the structure until the morning and when workers could get to it.

A similar scenario tumbled onto Bob Hollingsworth's rental home on Linden in Coeur d'Alene when part of a blue spruce crashed into the living room and a bedroom.

"In the process, it broke windows and cracked walls," Hollingsworth said, adding that one of the renters was inside the home but not injured. "A limb about 8 inches in diameter poked through about chest high, so luckily nobody was hurt."

Hollingsworth estimates the damage could be as high as $50,000.

Multiple buildings and roofs at the Kootenai County Fairgounds were damaged, including the entire roof on the clubhouse that is attached to the main grandstands, causing at least $100,000 worth of total damage, said Dane Dugan, general manager.

"Our biggest priority now is protecting what's left so it doesn't get damaged further with rain or snow," he said.

The historic Jewett House near Sanders Beach in Coeur d'Alene was also damaged by fallen trees. The home, built in 1917 and granted to the city of Coeur d'Alene in 1978 by Potlatch Forest Co., serves as a senior citizens and recreation center.

City parks and recreation director Steve Anthony said the facility will be indefinitely closed until repairs are completed.

The ferocious storm knocked down numerous trees, power lines and fences and damaged many structures throughout North Idaho.

Tedder Industries, a Hayden company that manufactures gun holsters and belts, was among the businesses damaged.

"(One of our buildings) lost half of its roof and it's a mess," said Tedder Industries CEO Thomas Tedder.

Highway crews, tree service firms and volunteers worked throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday to clear trees and debris from roadways and properties.

Robin Chisholm, who lives on Moccasin in Indian Meadows in Coeur d'Alene, said multiple trees fell on homes in that area. She said she was encouraged that several good Samaritans swept through the neighborhood giving residents a helping hand.

"It was nice to see this bunch come out to help," she said. "There must have been eight chain saws going at once and 20 trucks involved. They even asked if anybody needs food or a place to stay."

Despite the shock of a tree falling through their home, the Mittons said they have a lot to be thankful for heading into Thanksgiving next week.

"All of this stuff is replaceable," Don said.