RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Severe storms dumped a lot of rain on the Philadelphia region Wednesday night. Some people had to be rescued from their cars during flash flooding.
Tornado warnings were issued in Atlantic and Ocean counties in New Jersey and Sussex County, Delaware. However, early indications from the National Weather Service suggest that there was no evidence of a tornado touching down.
Flash flooding was reported in several areas, particularly in Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware. Two cars were stuck on Ring Road in Chadds Ford. Crews in rafts rescued three people in the vehicles and got them to safety, officials said. They were not injured.
There was also flooding and rescues reported in Lansdowne. Police had set up barricades at Union and Bartram avenues, an intersection prone to flooding. However, four drivers went around the barriers and got stuck in the high water, according to police. Fire crews responded and helped get them to safety. No injuries were reported.
In Philadelphia, there was street flooding on Main Street in Manayunk. While much of the water receded in time for the morning rush, some flooding lingered.
Many drivers ignored signs, splashing through several inches of water on Industrial Highway by Stewart Avenue in Ridley Township, Delaware County.
Some trees and power lines also went down, though outages were not widespread. As of 7 a.m. Thursday, PECO reported about 900 homes and businesses without power.