As Ida cleanup continues, Pennsylvania residents eying up another storm
AccuWeather: A line of storms is expected to move through from west to east between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's been one week since the remnants of Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on the Philadelphia region. For many businesses and homeowners, cleanup is still far from complete. Some are working off generators, while others are without consistent running water.
As business owners along Main Street in Manayunk attempt to dry and clear out, they were also keeping an eye on Wednesday night's approaching storm expected to bring more rain and possible flooding.
"We've got to prepare for it now, can't afford another one," said Jose Roman who works at Mike's Pizza.
SEE ALSO: Gov. Tom Wolf to tour storm damage in Bridgeport, Montgomery County
"If there's anything you have out and about, you need to just bring it in," said Upper Providence police.
Officers went door-to-door along Walnut Street in Mont Clare to warn people of the impending storm.
AccuWeather headlines:
- A line of storms will move through from west to east between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.
- The key concerns with this system are twofold: The first is for flash flooding as much of the area is already saturated. With precipitable water values near 1.6," we could easily see 1-2" of rain in a short period of time.
- The second is for severe weather, although the timing of the activity at night may help us out with that. There is decent shear (spinning winds in the atmosphere) though, meaning once again this summer, a tornado threat exists for Philadelphia, north and west.
- Watch your latest AccuWeather forecast HERE.
Last week's storm isn't the first time the Frisco family's house has flooded thanks to the Schuylkill River.
"'1972 was Agnes," said Donna Dellaquila. Her parents' home was filled with for the fourth time in their 58 years living there.
Because of the flooding, there hasn't been electricity for the last week along the block.
"We get through it. God gives you the strength and there's angels everywhere, there's always angels," said Dellaquila.
Angels, like Traci Slaybaugh.
"I can't do manpower but I can help in another way, which I hope makes a little bit of a difference to somebody," said Slaybaugh as she dropped off food and supplies at a makeshift pantry.
That pantry is stationed outside of the flooded Lock 29, the restaurant just opened in July.
"It's something I'll never forget seeing, even the odors. The water the mud, it's something I'll never forget, it's scary," said restaurant owner Buddy Martin.
Upper Dublin community coming together to rebuild
The long and difficult cleanup is also underway in Upper Dublin Township.
On Wednesday night, a group of volunteers managed to turn a heartbreaking situation into a heartwarming one by picking up down trees and debris outside Carol and Rick Kocher's home.
"It's just amazing that they come from all the neighborhoods in the area. We don't even know them. They even had like 20 people out here yesterday," said the Kocher's.
Barbara Mass organized the effort through Facebook. She felt compelled to help after volunteers cleaned up her home.
"First you might walk into a house and you cry because that sucks. Then you walk into a house and you see all these people coming and that's amazing. So, the tears, they just come," said Mass.
The tornado also caused mass damage at the township building, the police department and two schools, including the high school.
But the township administration is operating out of the Fort Washington Fire Department building.
"The township, while we are running on a skeleton staff and doing the best with limited internet and power that we have, we hope to be fully operational in just a few days," said Rebecca Lohoefer-Mahon who is the Upper Dublin Township Communications Coordinator.
The police station, which was a total loss, is operating out of the Upper Dublin Library.
Chief Francis Wheatley says while the cleanup is ongoing, it would be great if sightseers limited travel near the disaster zones.
"We're asking if you're not from the developments that were hit, please don't come here, there's nothing to see. It's really not safe," said Chief Wheatley.
Also for the two schools that sustained damage, the high school and Fort Washington Elementary School, they will be virtual for Thursday and Friday instruction. Officials will discuss further plans for learning over the weekend.
