Jul 24, 2008 12:49 pm US/Eastern
Storms Cause Widespread Damage, Cleanup Underway
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Cleanup is underway after a barrage of intense thunderstorms left thousands without powers and widespread damage across the Philadelphia region.
The storm front moved through the area Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, bringing with it heavy rains and thousands of lightning strikes.
Numerous trees and power lines were brought down by the rain causing widespread outages. According to authorities, crews were working to restore power to nearly 25,000 customers who were without electricity as of 5 a.m. Thursday.
The severe weather was the culprit of significant delays at Philadelphia International Airport and officials say at least 1,400 travelers were provided hospitality after being stranded overnight.
Center City residents awoke to find a tree had crashed down onto several parked vehicles at 3rd and Race Streets in Center City. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Fred Cusik, owner of one of vehicles, said he had just moved into the neighborhood and was trying to get things organized when he walked outside and saw his Jeep under the tree limbs.
Mother Nature also left her mark a few blocks away in the cities Northern Liberties section, where a tree fell onto a parked car at American Street and Wildey. Cleanup crews were out in force working to clear the sidewalk and again no one was injured.
A Bethel Township officer is recovering after being jolted by a bolt of lightning outside the township's firehouse building, police say. The officer was hospitalized with non life threatening injuries.
Earlier in the day Wednesday, a 21-year-old babysitter and a 3-year-old were struck by lightning while leaving a swim club in Lower Makefield. The pair were hospitalized in serious condition. (
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Lightning is also being blamed for a fire that broke out at Bed, Bath & Beyond store in King of Prussia Wednesday evening. Store customers and employees safely escaped the blazed. (
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The storms also wreaked havoc on area railways as SEPTA, Amtrak and N.J. Transit all experienced lengthy delays due to power outages along the lines.
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