Trees Fall On Homes, Hundreds Left In Dark After Storm Hits Croydon

UPDATE: Straight Line Winds To Blame For Croydon Storm Damage

Rain and wind and then all hell broke loose in Bristol Township’s Croydon and Newtownville sections Sunday just past 8 p.m.

Multiple witnesses described a thunderstorm that rolled through the area and quickly turned from run-of-the-mill storm to one that packed winds strong enough to topple trees.

As of 10:45 p.m., there were five homes with trees that had crashed into them, 900 customers without power, blocked roads, and numerous downed limbs and trees that were scattered across Croydon and Newportville, Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said.

As of late Sunday night, no injuries had been reported.

The American Red Cross staged with fire company commanders and the fire marshal’s office outside the CVS at Route 13 and Newportville Road to assist families who had been displaced from the storm.

Neighbors buzzed about the possibility of straight line winds, a tornado, or microburst causing the damage. The National Weather Service noted on Twitter they were aware of the damage reports.

In the 1400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue near Wyoming Avenue in Croydon, a large tree had uprooted and fallen. The tree struck two homes, including a duplex that housed two families.

Karen Stirling, who was inside the one home while her two young daughters were bathing, watched as the tree fell toward her home.

“My heart just stopped for a second,” she said.

Melissa Roop, who lives in the duplex, said the tree caused the floor of her unit to be slanted.

“I didn’t see it, but my boyfriend called and said there was a tree on the house,” she said.

Neighbor Paul Hansbury said the storm went from rain to heavy winds for a minute or two before the tree fell on the home.

On the other side of Croydon in the 200 block of Belmont Avenue, PECO crews and firefighters evaluated a home that had a massive tree resting on it.

Neighbor Christopher Gabriel said he was inside when he heard hail battering his residence.

“I thought a window was open. I could feel the wind in there, and then I covered the window. I was afraid it was going to break,” he said.

Dippolito said all five homes that had trees hit them were condemned by building inspectors due to the damage.

In the retail and apartment building next to the Dog and Bull Brew and Music House along Route 13, the roof was ripped off, damaging at least one apartment.

Croydon Fire Company Chief Tom Tryon sent Croydon, Newportville, Third District, and Union crews around the section of the township to search out damage and checking on residents.

Jaclyn Herring, who was working at Dog and Bull, recalled the storm turning nasty with strong winds and dark skies blowing in quickly.

“It was raining sideways and got super windy. Stuff was blowing everywhere,” she said. “And then it went back to normal and the sun came out.”

John and Nancy Wiser, who both live in Croydon, said they were home when the storm rushed in. Both said they heard the transformers blowing during the storm.

Bristol Township Public Works Departments crews were out and working to clear road obstructions and help with any other problems caused by the storm.

Along Newportville Road, a PennDOT crew was using brooms and a construction loader to help clear trees and large limbs that had blocked the roadway.

Throughout the area, fire police were directing drivers around closures.

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