Disasters
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Chester Firefighters Practice Swift Water Rescues Following Drowning
Chester firefighters are practicing life-saving swift water rescue techniques a year after 6-year-old Li’najah Brooker drowned after falling into a rain-saturated Chester Creek, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia. Her death has emphasized the need to train for the next water emergency. “I think it’s in the back of our minds all the time,”…
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Thornbury Coast Guard Pilot Back in Area to Lead Search and Rescues
Coast Guard helicopter commander Ryan Popiel, who grew up in Thornbury Township and who spent childhood summers at the Jersey Shore, is now assigned to the Coast Guard Air Station in Atlantic City, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia. “Saving lives is the most rewarding thing you can do with an aircraft,” Popiel said.…
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Aston Businessman Helps With St. Francis of Assisi School Rebuild
It’s been nearly a year since fire destroyed the 100-year-old St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Springfield, and efforts have been underway ever since the Oct. 7 fire to rebuild. The multi-million construction project has been getting help from the community, including from Vince Sculli, owner of Choice Sports Cards in Aston, reports Madeleine…
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Haverford Man Loses $100,000 in Koi Fish to Power Outage
He spent 20 years taking care of 100 koi fish until the power outage from last week’s storm killed them all. The Havertown fish, valued at an estimated $100,000, died after the power failure deprived them of much-needed oxygen, writes Jadon George for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Tom East’s koi pond was praised by family and…
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Newtown Square Seniors Relied on Each Other During 4-Day Power Outage
Residents of senior apartments in Newtown Square relied on their own wits and on each other to get through a four-day power outage that had them battling sweltering conditions after last week’s storm, writes Eva Andersen and Will Kenworthy for CBS Philadelphia. Power returned at 3 PM Monday to Newtown Towers, an apartment complex. The…
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Neighbors Rescue Woman From Drexel Hill Home Hit by Fallen Tree
A 72-year-old Drexel Hill woman trapped in her home by a fallen tree was rescued by neighbors after severe thunderstorms and wind hit the area Thursday, writes Ellen Koldziej for Fox 29. Ten-year-old Audie Patrick Murphy saw the massive tree fall on the Bond Avenue home of Alice Thomas and alerted his father, military veteran…
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Study Shows How Chadds Ford Floodwaters Can Be Reduced
When Hurricane Ida hit three years ago, the Brandywine watershed saw its worse flooding in 200 years. Chadds Ford floodwaters in the Brandywine Creek reached 20 feet. The floods displaced hundreds of residents, leaving behind $6 million in damage to the Brandywine River Museum and shutting down a local favorite, Hank’s Place, now rebuilt. A…
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Delaware County Transplants Describe LA Fire Devastation
Two former Delaware County residents are eyewitness to the Los Angeles fires currently raging in Los Angeles, reports Chris O’Connell for Fox 29. Craig Lundberg and John Craig both moved to the Los Angeles area from Delaware County. Lundberg now lives in Venice, California, a few miles from the Palisades fire. “The apartment I lived…
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Villanova University Researchers Looking at Hurricane Secrets
A Villanova University research team has been collecting data from Florida hurricane impacts on to figure out ways to reduce future damage, writes Maryann Pugh for MyChesCo. In October 2024, Hurricanes Milton and Helene caused tens of billions of dollars in damage to Florida. Dr. Jonathan Hubler, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and…
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Folcroft Neighbors Help Families Who Lost Everything in Rowhouse Fire
A Folcroft neighbor smelled smoke and banged on doors to help everyone get out safely. At least 125 firefighters were at the scene after neighbors reported hearing at least four propane tanks explode, followed by huge flames, writes Justin Udo and the staff at KYW Newsradio. “We had a really lovely neighbor who made everybody…
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Fire Guts Historic St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield
The community at St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield is mourning the loss of the 100-year-old school to a fire Monday night as it looks for an alternate location for the students, writes Katherine Scott and the 6abc digital staff. By Tuesday, students and families were already working on fundraising to rebuild the school,…
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Floodwater Rescue Tests Delaware County Tech and Crews
A Delaware County floodwater rescue saved Joel Bryant, who was hanging on for life after climbing a tree to escape rising flood waters that swept him away at Riviera Road and Flora Lane in Upper Chichester, reports 6abc. The 21-year-old had left his home during Tuesday’s storm around 11 PM because he thought he saw…
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Final Report: Cause Unknown in Church Helicopter Accident in Drexel Hill
We may never know why a medical helicopter went crazy, forcing the pilot to make a hard landing at Drexel Hill United Methodist Church nearly two years ago, a miraculous accident in which everyone survived. The National Transportation Safety Board issued its final report on Jan. 4 on the church helicopter accident and determined that…
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Flooded Renters in Collingdale Get Gift Card Help From Community
A Collingdale neighborhood is working to recover two weeks after a storm flooded 18 homes on Florence Avenue, helped by individuals and corporations who came forward with $4,000 in gift cards. A coastal storm overloaded the culvert of Pusey Run, a small stream emptying into Darby Creek back in mid-December, reports Madelene Wright and Will…
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Delaware County College Student Rescued From Gaza When War Starts
Delaware County college student Dakota Scott was rescued this weekend by her university’s armed guards from the Gaza border after Hamas attacked Israel, reports Randy Gyllenhaal for NBC 10 Philadelphia. Scott has been studying religion and history in Israel for a semester and was near Gaza this weekend, visiting friends when the rocket attacks began.…
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Research Underway to Find Cause, Solutions for Brandywine Creek Flooding
Two years ago, Hurricane Ida forced Thomas McGrady and his family to abandon his West Chester home as water rose along Brandywine Creek. They ended up canoeing in the dark across the creek for 20 minutes, dodging downed power lines in search of higher ground. The hurricane brought the worst flooding along Brandywine Creek in…
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Lansdowne Volunteer Travels to Maui to Help in Fire Disaster
A Lansdowne Red Cross volunteer who had just been on vacation in Lahaina, Maui now finds himself heading back there with a serious job to do. He joined other volunteers and first responders across Pennsylvania to help Hawaii cope with the wildfire destruction in Maui, writes Maggie Kent for 6abc. “The whole town is gone.…
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