PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A significant cleanup effort is underway following severe storms that struck the Philadelphia region on Thursday during rush hour, leaving tens of thousands without power.
The storm, which affected nearly 300,000 customers at its peak, has seen power restoration progress, with around 61,000 still without electricity as of Friday night.
PECO, the local utility company, is actively working to restore power and clean up after the storm, which brought down numerous trees and caused widespread damage across the area.
At one point, the severe weather prompted a tornado warning. However, the National Weather Service has stated that straight-line winds, measured at 60 to 70 mph, were the cause of the damage reported in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with no tornado activity confirmed at this time.
In Montgomery County, debris from the storms has created hazardous conditions. Action Cam footage captured a tree down on Willow Grove Avenue near Fenton Road in Glenside, which also took down power lines.
Jeremy Sirkan from Executive Tree Care reported an influx of calls for service, exceeding 100 requests.
“Today’s pretty crazy; we have four tree crews out, and two of our cranes were removing a lot of trees off a house,” Sirkan stated.
The severity of the storm caught many residents off guard. Brian Roeder, who was grilling in his backyard in Delaware County, found a neighbor’s car severely damaged by fallen tree debris.
“There’s dents on the front of the car, it took in the roof, part of the windshield,” Roeder said of the scene.
Power outages have remained widespread. At the Holly House in Media, over 100 residents, many of whom are seniors, are still without power.
PECO has warned that power restoration could take several days to complete. “There are so many outages from trees down, so we’re working on restoring circuits that serve the most customers first, so we can have as many people on as possible, and then tackle the smaller pockets of outages,” explained Tom Brubaker, PECO’s senior manager of marketing and communications.
For those affected by outages, Brubaker advised finding public places to stay cool, like malls, grocery stores, and libraries.
The impact of the storm was felt throughout Philadelphia as well. A tree fell on the Ridge Avenue United Methodist Church in Roxborough, prompting a member to state, “The church is not the building. The church is the people. We will persevere.”
In East Oak Lane, a teenage boy suffered injuries from a falling tree on the 6400 block of North 11th Street. Family members rushed him to Einstein Medical Center, where he was treated for leg injuries and is reported to be recovering.
Lakye Powell, a relative, described the immediate response by he and his family to lift the heavy tree off the boy after hearing his screams for help.
Strong winds also overturned a small, unoccupied plane at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, showcasing the remarkable force of the storm.
Outside of the city limits, drivers in Westtown Township, Chester County, were forced to find alternate routes after a large tree fell onto Concord Road near Oaklea Lane.
In Upper Darby, emergency responders had to rescue a woman pinned under a massive tree that fell onto her home on Bond Avenue. Fortunately, she was conscious and alert when firefighters arrived, as Deputy Chief Dennis Gallagher reported.
Neighbors responded quickly to her calls for help before emergency crews could arrive.
John DiStephano described a near-miss with his black Mustang, which was one of two vehicles damaged by falling trees in Drexel Hill, saying, “I heard a crash, which I thought was thunder, but it wasn’t thunder.”
The storm also inflicted damage on commercial properties, such as One Bala Plaza, where the roof was impacted. Chopper 6 revealed debris scattered in the parking lot and visible car damage.
Abington Hospital experienced its own challenges as the storm caused a power outage, leading to a temporary closure late Thursday night. Trauma patients had to be diverted to other nearby medical facilities, but power was restored and the emergency room reopened by 11 p.m. that same night.
The storm had widespread implications for transportation as well, with delays reported on SEPTA’s Regional Rail. An Action News viewer shared footage of a fire ignited when a tree fell on overhead wires near the Ardsley Station off Jenkintown Road in Glenside, but details on the extent of the damage remain unclear.
In Trenton, a large tree blocked all southbound lanes on Route 29 near the Calhoun Street exit, creating further travel disruptions.
As the storm passed, residents found solace in the sight of a rainbow appearing over Middletown, Bucks County, serving as a reminder of resilience following the ferocious weather.
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