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A renewed Pacific storm was “a contributing factor” in the death of a 70-year-old woman in a northern California exotic-wildlife preserve, authorities said Wednesday.

The woman was reading a bedtime story to her 7-year-old granddaughter Tuesday night when an oak fell on their safari-like luxury tent in Santa Rosa and killed the grandmother instantly, authorities said.

“Obviously, the weather was a contributing factor to this tragedy,” said Cyndi Foreman, a spokeswoman for the Rincon Valley Fire Protection District in Santa Rosa. “It was heavy rain in a short period of time and heavy winds and back-to-back storms.”

The death occurred as a strong and cold storm system from the Gulf of Alaska moved into the West. Ice was causing headaches in Arizona and the National Weather Service said additional rains, heavy snow and winds would make the going rough over the next several days for residents in much of the region.

Gayle Falgoust of Madison, Alabama, was staying at the private 400-acre Safari West wildlife preserve, whose website says is home to more than 800 animals such as zebras, giraffes, cheetahs and endangered birds.

The safari-like tent had hardwood floors and a canvas covering, and the 350-square-foot cabin featured a bedroom, bathroom and outdoor deck, Safari West spokeswoman Aphrodite Caserta told CNN.

“It was very stormy last night,” Caserta said Wednesday. “We had driving rains, and the rains were actually followed by heavy winds.

“There were numerous trees that fell throughout the county,” Caserta added. “It was really a severe storm. There was no way this storm could be foreseen. It was an act of God. We are devastated, and we have the utmost concern for the family.”

Caserta said Falgoust was participating in a grandparent-grandchild retreat, and last year, she brought another grandchild to the wildlife preserve, which describes itself as “the spirit of Africa in the heart of the wine country” of Sonoma County.

The 7-year-old granddaughter was picked up Wednesday by her parents, who are from Los Angeles, Caserta said.