Storms knock out power and close roads twice

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on July 9, 2014

*** UPDATE***

PECO has restored service to nearly all of the more than 260,000 customers affected by Tuesday evening’s severe thunderstorms that brought widespread damage to electric equipment.

PECO crews, contract personnel and staff have worked throughout the day and night to repair damage to the system and restore service to more than 254,000 customers in less than 36 hours.

As of 8 a.m., Thursday, approximately 5,900 customers remain without service. More than 2,800 PECO employees and contractors will continue to work around-the-clock to repair damage at individual locations to restore service to customers. Because of the extent of the damage, some customers could be without service until Friday.

*** END UPDATE***

It was a little like the proverbial “déjà vu all over again” for residents in the greater Chadds Ford area.

A July 3 thunder storm storm caused widespread power outages that darkened homes and businesses — some for up to 48 hours — along Route 1 from Kennett Square to Concord Township. Winds knocked down trees and power lines, and closed roads.

Another storm on July 8 also caused some outages and closed roads.

Kathy Howley, township manager in Pennsbury Township, said the second storm was worse than the first for road closures. She said on July 9 that at least four roads were closed that morning: Fairville Road between Hillendale and Stabler, Stockford Road. Pocopson Road between Chandler and Brinton’s Bridge, and Old Baltimore Pike.

“We’re just waiting for PECO to clear the downed wires,” she said. "We need some serious tree trimming.”

This limb was removed from the lines on Tuesday, July 8. — This limb — on south bound Route 1 across from the Chadds Ford Township municipal building — was removed from the lines on Tuesday, July 8.

Chadds Ford Township secretary Matt DiFilippo said there were problems along Creek Road, Ridings Boulevard and Bullock Road the morning of July 9.

Meanwhile, PECO reported more than 260,000 customers lost power during the July 8 storm, 27,800 in Chester County and 14,600 in Delaware County.

PECO said work crews were able to get 190,000 customers back online but, by 8 a.m., July 9, 70,000 were still without service.

Customers experiencing any electric or natural gas issues should call PECO at 1-800-841-4141. They can also report an outage at www.peco.com or by using PECO Smart Mobile On-the-Go, the company’s mobile enhanced Web site.

(Top photo: A dangling tree limb blocks the left hand lane of southbound Route 1 near Harvey Road during the July 3 storm.)

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.