Severe storms wreaked havoc in the Tri-State area, toppling trees, causing widespread power outages, and leading to ground stops at local airports on Thursday morning.
JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports faced ground stops around 10 a.m. as a result of the storms. Although the ground stops were lifted by noon, authorities warned that departure delays would persist throughout the day.
The storms in Orange County caused damage in Greenwood Lake, leaving behind downed power lines and trees, according to local officials.
According to local residents, the storm swiftly passed through the area, accompanied by hail and strong winds. It left a trail of destruction in its wake, with trees and branches falling onto houses, cars being crushed, and power lines being torn down.
“The rain came down at an almost horizontal angle, creating a dreadful scene,” recounted Uli Grau, a resident of Greenwood Lake. “As we peered out of our window, our visibility was severely limited. The force of the wind against the trees was truly remarkable, leaving us in awe.”
“It looked like something out of the Wizard of Oz, with stuff blowing past the window,” recalled Harvey Murphy, a resident.
Two middle school buses were greatly affected by the roads that were impossible to pass, according to authorities. Fortunately, all the students on both buses remained safe.
According to officials, there are certain roads in the area that should be avoided. These roads include Jersey Avenue, East Shore Road, Edgemere Avenue, Waterstone Bridge, and 17A.
In Yorktown, Westchester County, the fast-moving storm wreaked havoc, leaving over 3,000 homes without power. The storm’s fury brought down tree branches and caused significant damage throughout the area.
Sonia Rincon is here with the latest update from Westchester County.
The Yorktown Central School District announced that Brookside School would be dismissing early as a result of a complete power outage.
According to Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman, the police department is currently working on updating road closures, while the highway department is focused on clearing fallen trees that are not obstructing any wires.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries so far, although the roads in that area have been severely affected.
Lachterman expressed gratitude that there were no injuries resulting from the incident. He mentioned that a house nearby had been struck by lightning earlier that morning, but fortunately, everyone was safe. In addition to the lightning strike, there were also transformer fires and brush fires in the area. Lachterman commended the exceptional work of the local first responders in handling these emergencies.
Hamburg residents are expressing their reactions to the devastation caused by the recent storms.
Fierce winds wreaked havoc as they knocked down electrical lines and rendered certain roads impassable. Prompt action was taken by the crews who swiftly initiated the cleanup process.
When the storm arrived, residents were taken aback by its immense power, with some even mistaking it for a tornado touching down in their neighborhood.
Authorities are advising drivers to steer clear of routes 23 and 94 due to the presence of fallen trees, utility poles, and wires.
