Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, May 6, 1997

A severe thunderstorm with wind gusts estimated as strong as 70 mph caused damage in and around Chester City. Debris blown onto the railroad tracks severely caused a major disruption of Amtrak service along its Northeast Corridor. The first wind damage occurred in Upper Chichester Township when the roof and shingles of an auto repair shop were lifted off. The debris was rammed into several cars and several hoods and fenders were strewn. A house across the street from the repair shop suffered damage also to its deck, shingles and fencing. Within Chester City the thunderstorm knocked over a tree that crushed the front deck of a house, the roof was peeled from another house and shingles and sidings came off a third house. On Keystone Road, 8 roofs and 2 by 10 rafters were torn and scattered from Pastuszek Garages with damage estimated at $35,000.The worst damage occurred at a building supply company near the railroad tracks. The thunderstorm ripped the roof from two buildings. The tar roof of its large warehouse was twisted into a heap in its front parking lot. The wind tore the second 50 foot by 75 foot roof from an empty lumber shed and sent it into the power lines and landed intact on SEPTA's Marcus Hook regional rail line that are also used by Amtrak along its Northeast Corridor. Amtrak service between Philadelphia and Wilmington was suspended and stranded thousands of passengers. Service was restored to two tracks by 730 p.m. EDT and all tracks were back in service by 930 p.m. EDT and in time for the next morning's rush hour. Damage to the building supply company was estimated at $100,000.