CF declaring a state of emergency

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on August 8, 2023

A tree blocks Heyburn Road near Smithbridge Road.

UPDATE BELOW

Chadds Ford Township is going to declare a state of emergency following the Monday, Aug. 7 storm that downed trees, damaged homes, and knocked out traffic lights. Township Manager Matt Baumann said Tuesday morning that solicitor Mike Maddren was already working on the declaration.

“It’s so we can get reimbursed from the county,” Baumann said.

Supervisors' Vicechairman Samantha Reiner, who spent part of Tuesday morning recharging her phone battery in her car, said she and fellow supervisors made the decision to authorize the declaration during Tuesday morning calls and texts.

A telephone pole is one of several that snapped in half on Marshall Road. (Photo courtesy of Phil Wenrich)

One tree on the lower end of Heyburn Road near Smithbridge was still blocking the roadway Tuesday morning and another three were blocking the southbound lane of Webb Road at its intersections with Route 1. Utility poles were snapped by high winds on Marshall Road off Route 202.

Jody Allen, of the Chadds Ford Residents Association said his home on Kelly Drive, off of Smithbridge was damaged when several trees fell onto it.

A tree blocks the southbound lane of Webb Road at Route 1.

“We’re all safe,” he said,” just the house got damaged.

Traffic lights were out in various locations, including the intersections of Route 1 with Ring Road and Creek Road in Chadds Ford Township, and at Independence Way and Route 1 in Pennsbury.

As of 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, several roads in Concord Township remained closed. The township said all lanes on Route 1 remain closed between Thornton and Cheyney roads, Thornton Road between Concord and Route 1, Concord Road between Ivy Mills and Smithbridge roads, Spring Valley Road between Brinton Lake and Marshall roads, and Cheyney Road between Route 1 and Gov. Markham Drive.

As reported earlier this morning, the storm has forced the closing of Borough Hall in Kennett Square today. The building is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday.

A property on Kelly Drive appears to have taken an artillery airburst. (Photo courtesy of Phil Wenrich)

UPDATE

The traffic signal at Route 202 and Ridge Road is still flashing. A non-functioning traffic signal should be treated as a 4-way stop sign. Stop, look both ways and proceed with caution when the intersection is clear.

Governor Markham Drive and Cheyney Road between Route 1 and Patricia Lane remain closed in Concord Township, as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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.