PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A tornado touched down in New Castle County, Delaware Thursday night, officials confirmed, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby continue to move through the region.
The tornado touched down at 7:12 p.m. in Marshallton, Delaware, near the intersection of Route 7 and Kirkwood Highway, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Officials did not provide any immediate information on the strength or size of the tornado. Investigators will survey the damage on Friday to determine estimated wind speeds and the overall path.
Emergency management officials in New Castle County said there were no initial reports of injuries, though some homes and businesses sustained some damage, including part of an Acme Market’s roof that was torn off. Debris scattered about also made some roads hard to navigate.
Dozens of trees were knocked down and power went out for some residents.
Tree crews used chainsaws and a wood chipper Friday afternoon to dispose of a large maple tree that narrowly missed Eddie Gardner’s house.
“I never heard any branches snap or crack, but I did feel the house shudder,” Gardner said. “I walked around the house and I did not see any damage to the foundation or anything. So hopefully God was watching us and he spared the house.”
Drivers are reminded to never go around barricades for road closures, especially in the dark where the depth of floodwaters is not visible.
Water levels remain high and more rain is in the forecast for Friday, so more flooding is possible.
A tornado watch was in effect until about 5:30 p.m. Friday for most of the mid-Atlantic region, including parts of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.