New Castle County, Delaware, was battered by a series of severe storms on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The powerful winds and intense weather conditions caused widespread damage and led to heroic rescue efforts.
In Middletown, on the 2500 block of Chopin Drive, the storms tore off parts of a roof, leaving a home with significant damage. Several homes in the Village of Bayberry North and South developments in Middletown suffered damage. Trees were uprooted, and street signs were bent over at almost 90 degrees.
Along Route 1 South at Hyetts Corner Road, the high winds proved disastrous when they toppled a tractor-trailer onto a Ford Explorer. A woman claiming to be a family member of the individuals involved in the incident provided reassurance on social media, stating that everyone in the Explorer was unharmed.
The storm kept the Delaware City Fire Company (DCFC) busy on Sunday as well. As the storm moved through, a 911 call came in alerting DCFC to an incident at the intersection of Governor Lea Road and West Seventh Street.
Photos of all of these incidents can be viewed on our Facebook page here
A minivan with four occupants, including two adults and two children, became trapped in floodwaters. Equipped with specialized water rescue gear, the courageous rescue crews navigated the treacherous conditions and successfully extricated the individuals from the rising waters. The victims were transported to the firehouse to seek shelter from the ongoing inclement weather.
DCFC was also dispatched to the 300 block of Canal Street for a roof ripped off of a building. Quint 15 was committed at several incidents in Odessa at the time but Deputy 15 and Squad 15 responded and checked the area for any additional hazards. They found that the roof had been ripped off of the fuel shed.
Through it all, New Castle County residents have demonstrated their resilience, standing strong and offering assistance to those affected by the storms. As the community moves forward, lessons learned from this event will undoubtedly shape future preparedness strategies and foster a deeper appreciation for the power of nature and the importance of safeguarding lives and property in the face of severe weather conditions.
The National Weather Service views all of the photos we have posted on our Facebook page and may visit Delaware on Monday to determine if the storm was a tornado or just strong winds.