Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1997

A squall line of severe thunderstorms moved through Monroe County and caused straight-line wind damage across the county, especially along the southern tier with Smithfield Township and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area hit the hardest. Three persons were injured within the recreational area as cars and campers were pelted by falling trees and limbs. Wind gusts in Smithfield Township were estimated at 85 mph. Other wind gusts along the county's southern tier were measured as strong as 70 mph. Wind damage was also reported elsewhere in the county, particularly in Pocono Lake where numerous trees were uprooted. By far the worst damage occurred in and around Smithfield Township. Huge trees in the Spring Lake Development within the township were uprooted. Four major roadways within the town were closed because of downed trees, one for 26 hours. At least three homes were damaged by fallen trees. Windows were blown out from the East Stroudsburg High School and wind damage also occurred to the Hamilton School. Pennsylvania Power and Light reported 77,000 homes and businesses lost power during the storm in their service area in Northeast Pennsylvania, with about 8,000 of the outages in Monroe County. About 3,200 customers were still without power the night of the 17th. GPU also reported about 8,000 additional homes and businesses in their Monroe County service area also lost power.