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First responders in Berks County, Pennsylvania, faced a challenging night on Wednesday (November 5) as high winds caused significant damage across the area. The Exeter Township Fire Department reported responding to about a dozen calls, including a dramatic rescue operation where a tree fell on a home, trapping a resident inside.
The storm, characterized by gusts exceeding 60 mph, led to numerous trees falling, causing chaos and destruction. In St. Lawrence Borough, a tree crashed into a home, leaving the family shaken but unharmed. Cary McDaniel, a resident, described the event as surreal, stating, "It was scary, it was loud and it was just like 'Boom' black" (WFMZ-TV).
In Heidelberg Township, a woman was trapped in her bed after a tree crashed through her roof. Emergency crews from multiple companies, including Robesonia Fire Company and Boyertown Fire & Rescue, worked for nearly two hours to free her using specialized rescue techniques (Reading Eagle).
The storm also caused a car accident on Route 422 when a tree fell onto the road, shearing the roof off a vehicle. Fortunately, the driver sustained only non-life-threatening injuries (Local 21 News).
Despite the extensive damage, officials reported no serious injuries. Crews continued to work on clearing fallen trees and restoring power to approximately 1,700 residents affected by outages. The Exeter Township Public Works Director, Larry Piersol, noted that the wind was so strong it even snapped a street light, leaving it hanging by its wires.