Quick-hitting storm brings down trees, knocks out power across region
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A strong line of storms came through fast and furious, causing some damage and power outages across the region.
Chopper 6 was over the 1400 block of Levick Street in Northeast Philadelphia where a tree snapped in half, resting on two cars.
On the 1100 block of Hellerman, a tree came crashing down on a car. Luckily, no one was hurt.
"We were standing on the porch and it flipped over on the car and it was like a really big crash and everybody started coming outside," said Sinai Foid of Oxford Circle.
*** UPLOAD PHOTOS/ VIDEOS OF STORM DAMAGE HERE *** .
Val Sosa is the owner of the car.
Through a translator, he says, "I was at my job and when I got home from work, this is how I found my car."
The storm also blew over a trampoline across the street. Not far away in the Holmesburg section, the storm also wreaked havoc.
"It got real black and dark and windy," said Chris Long.
"It was hail. We went outside to the deck to take out our canopy. It was raining a lot and that's when we saw thunder, lightning hit the generator. The lights went out and we saw the tree fall down. Thank God none of the cars were parked where the tree fell," said Angela Morales.
Shortly thereafter, high winds ripped a section of metal bleachers and threw them into the middle of the football/soccer field at Father Judge High School.
Don Yannuzzi who lives across the street heard all the noise and came out to see what happened.
"It's amazing what Mother Nature can do," said Yannuzzi.
Near the Tacony Bridge, viewer Noi Heininger captured video of lightning striking a tree.
If you look closely, you can actually see the current traveling up the tree.
At the height of the quick moving storm, over 7,700 PECO customers lost power leaving many intersections without working traffic signals and causing a traffic mess.
It also left homes and businesses like Chucks Pub & Seafood house in the dark.
"Doesn't matter," said Bartender Zephir Davis. "We still have ice, still got drinks and if you look inside, we still got customers," he adds.
Sure enough, we went inside and there were customers alright.
"We're dining in the dark, we came for crab legs and since we came so far, we said we might as well have a drink. We're hoping the lights come back on cause crab legs dont take but about 10 minutes if that," said Frankie Brown.
