10,000 without power, vehicles stranded after flash flooding across Berks [Updated]

Emergency crews across Berks County fielded a barrage of calls stemming from a severe storm that took out power for 10,000 customers Tuesday evening.

By 5:30 p.m., flooding from up to 3 inches of rainfall had stranded vehicles, and winds up to 60 mph brought down poles, trees and wires across the county, according to emergency reports and statements from the National Weather Service, Mount Holly, NJ.

At 7 p.m., 9,601 Met-Ed customers were without power, with 20 municipalities reporting over 100 outages. Those most affected included 2,167 in Exeter Township, 1,367 in Amity Township, 692 in Fleetwood Borough, 453 in Muhlenberg Township.

There were 903 PPL customers also without power: 344 in Spring Township, 307 in Heidelberg Township, 252 in South Heidelberg Township.

Rescues involving vehicles stuck in flooded roadways were reported in multiple locations, including Landis Store and Baldy Hill roads, District Township, Blandon and Oley roads,  Ruscombmanor Township, the railroad underpass on Gibraltar Road, Exeter Township, and the ramp to 222 northbound from Route 61 in Muhlenberg Township.

About 4 feet of water trapped occupants inside a vehicle along the 100 block of Westley Road in Robeson Township, reports said.

Several rescues were reported in areas of Kramer Road in Brecknock Township.

In Earl Township at Earl Road and Manatawny Road, crews were called to rescue three occupants of a vehicle that was trapped by fallen wires.

In Muhlenberg Township, a fallen tree damaged a home on Edison Drive, and a home on Scotland Drive in Exeter Township needed a structural investigation following flooding in the basement.

On Conrad Road in Rockland Township, a family was reportedly trapped in their home by a fallen tree.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties until 9 p.m.