Storms Leave Thousands in Dark, Cause Water Problems

A gusty line of storms knocked out power to tens of thousands of people in Bucks County and caused numerous problems in the Levittown area.

Along with the storms came downed wires and tree branches, debris in the roads and other impacts. Residents in parts of Levittown said they were having problems with their water pressure. Some residents even reported that their water service was interrupted as of 10 p.m.

Police, firefighters, public works crews and fire police were dispatched throughout the area to deal with several incidents. Police in Falls Township were out along Falls-Tullytown Road due to storm-related damage. Middletown authorities responded along the Neshaminy Creek for reported problems.

“You would have though a F-0 tornado came through here. Our garbage cans are tossed around and neighbor’s canopy is gone,” Patricia Brito wrote on LevittownNow.com’s Facebook page.

Residents in the Junewood and Goldenridge sub-sections of Bristol Township reported trees and branches down. One resident said houses and vehicles were damaged.

A Langhorne Borough resident called and said brief but strong winds took down branches in her yard. She added her sister in Croydon reported little impact from the storm.

Another person wrote that branches were down on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

There were reports that firefighters from Middletown and Lower Southampton responded to the Neshaminy Creek for a water rescue. It is unclear the exact details of what happened.

Here are the latest power outages as of Tuesday at 10:15 p.m.:

Bristol Borough – 26

Bristol Township – 9,425

Falls Township – 8,749

Langhorne Borough – 183

Langhorne Manor Borough – 12

Middletown Township – 5,666

Penndel Borough – 297

Tullytown – 447

Bucks County – 44,775

Severe storms have passed through the area. If you have an outage, report it online at http://t.co/aWqOMJELI0 or by calling 1-800-841-4141.

— PECO (@PECOconnect) July 9, 2014

Below are tips on how to best prepare for a power outage:

• Purchase needed items for your home, office and car including: flashlights, batteries, AM/FM battery powered radio, rechargeable power failure lights, wind up or battery alarm clock, and light sticks. Have a 72 hour emergency kit for each family member.
• Keep cash and change on hand. In power failures ATMs may not work and you may need to make a phone call at a pay phone.
• Phones with answering machines and cordless phones are power dependent. Have at least one phone that does not require power in case you need to call 911. Keep your cell phone powered up.
• Familiarize yourself with your main electrical panel. You may have to turn off the main breaker or have to reset circuit breakers after an outage.
• If you use your fireplace for heat, be responsible! Don’t burn wood with paint or stain. Do not leave an open flame. Make sure you close your fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying. Do not store newspapers, kindling, or matches near the fireplace.If you use candles for lighting, place them on a fire proof surface.
• Make sure you have smoke detectors in appropriate rooms. Change the batteries regularly, preferably every 6 months, and test them monthly. If your smoke detectors are wired directly into the electrical system of your home they will not operate during a power failure unless the batteries are working. Special smoke detectors are available for people with hearing impairment.
• Have a fire extinguisher and know how to operate it. Have a fire evacuation plan and practice fire drills.
• During the power outage, unplug all small appliances and electronics to avoid damage from power surge. Leave one low wattage incandescent light on so you know when the power comes back on.
• When power comes back on you may have to reset your clocks, VCRs, microwave ovens, programmable thermostats, burglar and fire alarms.