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Investigators To Determine If Tornado Touched Down In Delaware

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) –Wicked storms rolled through the region on Monday bringing down trees, power lines and sparking  fires.

The strong storms prompted tornado warnings in Kent and Sussex County.

Investigators will head to Pondside Acres, Delaware to determine if a tornado damaged a mobile home in the area.

No injuries have been reported.

In Pennsylvania, authorities believe a lightning strike may have sent a home up in flames.

It happened in the 100 block of Osborne Circle in Kennett Square.

"There is a large crack in the area believed to be a lightning strike," said John Weer, Chief Fire Marshal Chester County.

He says a house sitter and a few pets all escaped the home uninjured.

Severe Storms: Lightning Strike Causes Chester Co. House Fire
Credit: CBS3

The fire caused about $750,000 in damage.

According to Weer, five Chester County homes in total were also struck by lightening during the height of the storm.

In Paoli, Dorothea Davis drove through heavy rain and wind gusts as she left work on Monday afternoon.

"The main roads into Lancaster, flooding really bad. Waters like pouring like crazy," Davis said. "I'm getting off work early so I can beat this storm because they said something about hail. I don't need that in my life right now."

But Daniel McBrearty wasn't so lucky.

He got caught in the downpour as he walked from the Paoli Train Station.

"My socks are wet now because of all of the puddles. But other than that it's kind of like a shower," he said.

Severe Weather Threat Continues Through The Afternoon, Evening

Meantime in Devon, trees fell onto roadways and a power pole split into pieces, bringing power lines down with it.

"When I came home, I saw a fire truck and thought, 'Oh God, I hope no one got hit walking because we all walk in the neighborhood," neighbor Tish Lanahan said.

Lanahan says her home and others in the neighborhood lost power as a result.

Local public safety departments remind neighbors to call their electric providers --not police -- to report power outages.

 

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