Port Jervis storm leaves are with power outages, flooding after

ByCarolina Leid WABC logo
Friday, August 22, 2014
Port Jervis hit hard with flooding after storm
Carolina Leid is live with teh aftermath of the storm

PORT JERVIS (WABC) -- Powerful thunderstorms in the Port Jervis area Thursday evening knocked out power and flooded roads leaving residents in the dark and crews working through the night.

Heavy rain, wind and lightning ripped through around 7 p.m., causing power outages for an estimated 7,000 customers in Port Jervis and Pike County, Pa. Outages were largely due to downed power lines and trees.

Some crews' efforts were slowed by road flooding that made it difficult to access certain areas.

Volunteer firefighters in Port Jervis responded to more than 30 calls Thursday night, including a handful of people who got trapped in cars that were completely submerged.

Crowds formed to watch them help residents pump water from their homes around 10 p.m., but emergency workers weren't sure how long it would take to help all those in need.

Residents said they had not seen such storm damage in 15 years.

Many said the strong winds and downpour swept through the area so quickly, it just caught them off guard.

No injuries were reported