A slow-moving thunder storm with torrential rains, spectacular lightning and tons of thunder kept fire and police busy in Cumberland County Tuesday night. Meanwhile, a lightning strike started a fire in Dauphin County, destroying a home in Susquehanna Township.
Traffic is moving smoothly in the 6400 block of Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, but it was a different story Tuesday night when heavy rains flooded the roadway.
The storm seemed to pick up strength around Chambersburg, then entered Cumberland County and moved at a snail's pace eastward to the West Shore, across the river and into Dauphin County.
Although much of the storm-related activity seemed to be in Cumberland County, the most serious damage might have occurred in Dauphin County, where a lightning strike caused a fire which destroyed a home in the 3200 block of Brookfield Street in Susquehanna Township.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting through the roof of the ranch-style home. The resident of the house was not at home at the time of the fire, having earlier left to stay with a friend during the storm. Damage is estimated at $150,000 dollars.
Back in Cumberland County, the basement walls of a home at 27 Richard Road in Hampden Township collapsed. Robert Reth, his wife and child evacuated the structure after the family cat alerted them to a problem.
He said multiple sump pumps couldn't keep up with the water pouring into the cellar.
The American Red Cross is helping the Reth family with lodging and other personal necessities.
Shortly before 11:30 Tuesday night, lightning struck the familiar clock tower atop the Wegman’s Food Store along the Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township. Shoppers and employees were evacuated.
Firefighters discovered a small fire between the clock and the top of the spire. A barrier prevented the flames from spreading.
The clock never stopped. No smoke or water damage was reported inside the store. It re-opened about two and a half hours later.
Also in Carlisle, police closed the Walnut Bottom Road at South West Street after flood waters stranded a motorist.
There were numerous other incidents that kept first responders busy. Lightning struck the roof of Cumberland Valley High School, temporarily cutting off power.
Not far away on Penn Runs Road, a man checking his roof for water leaks fell through the ceiling and another floor to the first floor. He was transported to Harrisburg Hospital for treatment.
Traffic is moving smoothly in the 6400 block of Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, but it was a different story Tuesday night when heavy rains flooded the roadway.
The storm seemed to pick up strength around Chambersburg, then entered Cumberland County and moved at a snail's pace eastward to the West Shore, across the river and into Dauphin County.
Although much of the storm-related activity seemed to be in Cumberland County, the most serious damage might have occurred in Dauphin County, where a lightning strike caused a fire which destroyed a home in the 3200 block of Brookfield Street in Susquehanna Township.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting through the roof of the ranch-style home. The resident of the house was not at home at the time of the fire, having earlier left to stay with a friend during the storm. Damage is estimated at $150,000 dollars.
Back in Cumberland County, the basement walls of a home at 27 Richard Road in Hampden Township collapsed. Robert Reth, his wife and child evacuated the structure after the family cat alerted them to a problem.
He said multiple sump pumps couldn't keep up with the water pouring into the cellar.
The American Red Cross is helping the Reth family with lodging and other personal necessities.
Shortly before 11:30 Tuesday night, lightning struck the familiar clock tower atop the Wegman’s Food Store along the Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township. Shoppers and employees were evacuated.
Firefighters discovered a small fire between the clock and the top of the spire. A barrier prevented the flames from spreading.
The clock never stopped. No smoke or water damage was reported inside the store. It re-opened about two and a half hours later.
Also in Carlisle, police closed the Walnut Bottom Road at South West Street after flood waters stranded a motorist.
There were numerous other incidents that kept first responders busy. Lightning struck the roof of Cumberland Valley High School, temporarily cutting off power.
Not far away on Penn Runs Road, a man checking his roof for water leaks fell through the ceiling and another floor to the first floor. He was transported to Harrisburg Hospital for treatment.