Storms uproot trees, knock out power across the Philadelphia area, Montgomery County hit hardest
Two Montgomery County families are without homes after strong storms swept through the Delaware Valley Wednesday night, uprooting trees and knocking power out to thousands of people.
A county spokeswoman confirmed the emergency communications center received several reports of downed trees and power lines, but no significant incidents or injuries.
PECO restored power to most of its affected customers by Thursday morning, but homeowners were just beginning to assess the damage.
Pottstown was particularly hard hit by the storm's pounding rain and strong winds.
In Pottstown, a large tree fell on a home on Savage Street.
The tree was completely uprooted and its upper branches were resting dangerously on the roof and second floor of the home. Four people at the home were receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Another two people were displaced from a home on Mervine Street and also receiving Red Cross aid. And at the Linden Apartments, tree branches and leaves remain scattered across the complex.
John Mack, who lives across the street, said the storm created white-out-like conditions.
"The wind was so loud," Mack said. "We couldn't even see their house. That's how hard the wind and the rain was going by."
He said neither the older couple who lived in the house nor their dogs were injured.
The 600 block of Hanover Street remained blocked Thursday morning after a large tree came crashing down, snapping power lines and damaging the road's surface.
Ginette Beetem, who lives on the block, said she was prepared to use her own chainsaw to cut up the downed tree, which was still on top of the road by mid-morning.
"It's already over 12 hours. I don't understand why they're not here to cut the tree down," Beetem said. "I guess I do. There's probably a lot more out there that's happened."
Robert Gallo, whose home was damaged by a large tree, described a near-miss for his daughter.
"One of the limbs came down, I don't know how, it came through the roof ... actually punctured an interior wall of the house, scared my daughter pretty good," Gallo said. "Had a picture frame fly off the wall where it came through and kind of hit her on the head as she was running out of the room."