Severe storms leave thousands in Philadelphia without power

On June 19, 2025, severe storms impacted the Philadelphia region, causing widespread power outages and property damage across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Following the storms, thousands of households experienced electricity disruptions, with PECO reporting the highest impact, as 247,293 of its customers in the Philadelphia area lost power. Bucks County was severely affected, recording 68,664 outages. Montgomery County and Delaware County also reported significant numbers, losing 62,997 and 63,480 customers, respectively. Delmarva Power and Public Service Enterprise Group faced outages among their customers as well, indicating the storms' widespread impact across the region. The extreme weather also resulted in substantial damage to infrastructure, including the WMMR radio station in Bala Cynwyd, which had part of its roof collapse during the storm. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from this collapse, although some cars were damaged. This incident sheds light on the physical toll the storms took in addition to the loss of electricity. In another significant event, a child was injured when a tree fell in East Oak Lane, and another individual was hurt when a tree struck a vehicle in Overbrook. These incidents highlight the storm's dangerous impact on the community. Despite the severe weather threat passing, the aftermath of the storm left local hospitals, such as Jefferson Abington Hospital, without power for several hours, illustrating the storm's strain on emergency services. As recovery efforts began, utility companies worked diligently to restore power to affected residents. Meanwhile, the region prepared for a subsequent heat wave, signaling further weather challenges. It is important to note that while the threat of severe storms subsided, the community must be ready for other harsh weather conditions, as temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s over the upcoming weekend. This stark contrast in weather further complicates recovery efforts following the storm. Residents were urged to remain cautious while cleanup efforts were underway, and community responses were focused on addressing the immediate needs of those affected, particularly regarding safety and health, as the heat wave approached. Community updates on outages, safety protocols, and power restoration were disseminated to keep the public informed and engaged during this challenging time.