News

July 4, 2009

Rain storm damages West Side

Flooding, lightning strikes, power outages, mudslides and toppled trees are reported in area.

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

The estimated 2.5 inches of rain that drenched northern Luzerne County Friday afternoon caused particular headaches for West Side area residents.

Lightning strikes, flash flooding, small mudslides, trees being toppled and brief power outages were just some of the headaches residents endured during the storm, which began pelting the area about 3:15 p.m. and didn’t let up until more than 45 minutes later.

A Swoyersville home was damaged when lightning struck the roof creating a hole. Several cars on Northampton Street near the Kingston-Edwardsville border had to be towed away after becoming flooded with rising water from the rapidly falling rain and Bunker Hill Road, which connects Kingston Township and Luzerne, was closed after several trees were toppled and a small mudslide occurred, according to a Luzerne County 911 official. Bunker Hill Road was expected to be open by morning, the 911 official said.

Members of the Edwardsville Fire Department used fire trucks to block off Northampton Street to keep vehicles from entering the high water that stretched several blocks from the Thomas Avenue intersection up to the Gateway Shopping Center at Wyoming Avenue.

Edwardsville police officer Mike Lehman provided traffic control on Northampton Street near the intersection with Thomas Avenue as tow truck drivers removed five vehicles from the scene after they became inundated with heavy water.

“This is always a problem here,” Lehman said as the water finally began to slowly recede.

The storm also knocked out traffic signals and other electricity in Kingston along Market Street.

UGI spokesman Keith Adams said about 1,100 customers lost power shortly after 4 p.m. when lightning struck a main line at Rutter Avenue and Point Street. Service to 1,000 customers was restored within 30 minutes, and by 9:30 p.m., the remaining 100 customers had power, he said.

PPL Electric spokeswoman Kathy Frazier reported all PPL customers had power and there were no disruptions to their service throughout the day.

Business picked up considerably at the U.S. Gas station on Market Street in Kingston around 5 p.m. after the electricity was restored and rain stopped.

Station employee Satish Vegi was happy to see the electricity restored about 4:55 p.m., because he estimated that for at least 30 minutes, “My pumps, my cash register, my lottery machine – everything was off.”

Mitch Gilt of the National Weather Service said the heavy rain should be over for at least the next few days. There could be an isolated shower today, but temperatures should reach the mid-70s today and tomorrow, Gilt said. Later in the week and closer to next Friday, temperatures will climb into the 80s with partly cloudy skies.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

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