At 12:01 am on Friday, Peco Energy Co. spokeswoman Cathy Engel said 190,000 customers in Delaware and Chester counties and in Philadelphia still without electricity, and she said that some would go days without electricity.
"The damage is quite significant," said Engel.
Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties in New Jersey and power outages.
Partitions of services to the south of Philadelphia has been postponed or suspended. The trees on the tracks and cut the wires closed Media / Alvin lines for the evening, the spokesman said. Partitions hopes to restore service on Friday morning commute.
Delaware and Chester counties were particularly hard hit.
A woman and her two daughters were traveling to the West Greenwood Avenue in Lansdowne, Delaware County, when a large tree fell on the Lexus, trapping two occupants, police said. The younger daughter out of the car and ran to the nearest house, where 911 was called, Lansdowne Police Sgt. Dan Donegan said. Firefighters rescued a mother and teenage daughter from Lexus, which was surrounded by downed power lines, Donegan said.
Both were taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Donegan said. When asked how the tree fell on a car, Donegan laughed. "It was big tree," he said.
In Willistown, Chester County, there were dozens of fallen trees, broken wires, natural debris as deep as the snow was in the winter. At McDonald's in Newtown Square, people lined up outside the door as early as 9 pm, because the other restaurants were closed or they had no power at home.
Several large trees came down near Citizens Bank Park, where the storm interrupted play Phyllis Cleveland Indians with 45,085 in attendance. After the referee crew chief Gerry Davis signal for the game to stop, the head guard Mike Boekholder and other crew members Phillies grounds rushed on the field as fans vied security approximate corridors. Boekholder said that he was prepared for the worst, calling in extra help.
"They tell us to expect [winds] up to 70 miles per hour, and they probably were not too far from the truth," said Boekholder. "We watched it on radar, so we know what it is. It was not like it caught us by surprise. We are well aware.
It was still not enough to save nature from wreaking havoc. When visibility is almost zero level and the giant hail falling from the sky, a heavy tarpaulin, the crew uses to cover the infield came flying, despite the constrained utility vehicle John Deere.
"It was not very fun," said Boekholder. "This is the first time I saw a car get pulled through the canvas.
In Clark Park in University City, 4 large trees felled sycamore.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said the damage was widespread and appears to be caused by powerful winds of a straight line, rather than something with an indication of a tornado, but he said weather officials will make a final decision.
As of 12:01 am Friday, Peco reported 99,000 customers still without electricity in Delaware County, 79000 in Chester County and 12,000 in Philadelphia. Bucks County and Montgomery largely spared.
The New Jersey, more than 17,000 clients in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties, said spokeswoman Karen Johnson PSEG. Atlantic City Electric said 40,000 customers lost power at Camden County, and 14,000 in Gloucester County.
Strong winds tore off part of the roof with a New Light Beulah Baptist Church, 1701 Bainbridge St. in Philadelphia and sent him on the street about 4 pm, crushing two cars, according to a neighbor.
Tent banquet hall at 1402 W. Oxford St. collapsed in North Philadelphia. On the injuries were reported.
In South Philadelphia, two trees were broken, the broken part to crush the metal fence around the St. John Neumann Place, a senior housing facility, which previously John Neumann High School.
In Bartram garden in Southwest Philadelphia, known Yellowwood tree struck by lightning, and, although still standing, there was only one large branch intact.
"I'm devastated," said Louise Turan, executive director of the garden.
60-foot Yellowwood, the second oldest in the historic garden of 54 Street and Lindbergh Boulevard, may have been collected in Tennessee and Kentucky, the French plant explorer Andre Michaux and sent to William Bartram in the 1790's. It was planted near the house, and was a favorite of visitors. His cascading white flowers bloom only in spring, including this one. "She was beautiful," Turan said.
Bartram will be closed Friday because of storm damage. Turan said the staff told her that he saw Yellowwood survive even greater damage in the past.
"I hope it's true. This tree is near and dear to our hearts," she said.
