A decades-old tree slammed into an East Boston home, punching out a window, while the gusting winds of Hurricane Sandy drew one windsurfer into the waters off South Boston today for a breakneck ride across Pleasure Bay. Meanwhile, a little farther away from the water, the streets were mostly deserted while a police cruiser announced on its loudspeaker that people should stay indoors.

In East Boston, a powerful gust uprooted a towering tree in the backyard of a Waldemar Avenue home. The tree, which the homeowner estimated to be about 50 years old, fell into the house but only punched out the kitchen window.