30,000 Without Power as Ice Storm Causes Problems

Downed trees, ice-covered roads, power outages and other mayhem greeted the area Wednesday morning.

An overnight ice storm was just as bad, if not worse, than forecasters predicted. A National Weather Service spotter in nearby Trenton recorded more than a quarter inch of ice. The ice was on top of a heavy 8 inches of snow that fell Monday.

Heavy ice and rain-soaked snow brought down branches and wires starting early Wednesday morning. Around 3 a.m., portions of the sky flashed green and blue, bursts of light from transformers that were failing.

As of noon, 30,000 Levittown-area customers were without electric service, according to PECO. Crews were spotted working on lines at several different spots.

Neshaminy School District’s Maple Point Middle School will be opening at 1 p.m. as a pet-friendly warming station, according to the Red Cross. The Falls Township building’s meeting room is operating as a charging station for residents.

Police, fire and EMS crews fielded calls for service throughout the morning.

Power outages knocked out traffic lights throughout the area. The area of Levittown Parkway and Route 13 lost traffic lights well before daybreak and public works crews set up several portable generators in Bristol Township and Middletown.

An area of heavy police and fire activity was centered around the intersection of Woodbourne and Bristol-Oxford Valley roads. A short time later a truck became entrapped when live wires and a pole fell just down the street at Trenton and Chickenfoot roads. As of noon, PECO crews were still working to repair the damaged pole.

Highway traffic on Route 1 and I-95 was stopped several times throughout the morning as large trees blocked the road. PennDOT crews were scene removing a large tree before the Maple Avenue exit with a large piece of machinery.

Langhorne and Middletown appeared to suffer heavily as a large limb were seen in submitted photos on a vehicle. Other parts of the borough had various branches down. Part of South Bellevue was blocked by barricades due to the downed branches and wires.

Middletown Fire Marshal Jim McGuire said he is working to open another warming station in the township, which has been hit hard by power outages.

Many local resturants and stores were closed during the morning. Local gas stations that were open appeared busy.

Langhorne got clobbered with this ice storm. pic.twitter.com/ZWqns2dldC

— Jesse Gardner (@plasticmind) February 5, 2014