A Tennessee man died after ignoring severe storm warnings while trying to save his pet, according to reports.

Ray Wood, 63, was killed close to home in Adamsville on Saturday when a tree fell and fatally struck him during the raging storm that hit the region, according to Tennessee River Valley News. It was not immediately clear what kind of animal he was trying to rescue, or what happened to it.

The Adamsville High School Band mourned the loss of “one of our own” in a Facebook post, identifying Wood as a former band dad and pit crew leader.

“Mr. Ray Wood was the nicest, most generous man. Our hearts are broken over his loss and for his family,” the band wrote. “He will be so deeply missed by us and the community for which he had a heart of serving.”

The storm “took on the behavior of a small hurricane,” local officials said.

Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis signed a declaration of emergency Sunday to speed recovery operations.