BERWICK, Pa. — The remnants of Wednesday night's severe thunderstorms can be seen littered across Berwick as roadways remain closed and yards are filled with fallen trees.
The National Weather Service said Thursday that the damage was caused by straight-line winds from a downburst, with peak winds of 90 to 100 mph.
"We had all hands on deck. We got a lot done today, and we have a lot more to do, but we'll get it done," said Tom Cicini, Berwick Golf Club President.
At the Berwick Golf Club in Neighboring Briar Creek Township, Club President Tom Cicini and nearly 50 other volunteers traded in the clubs for chainsaws and heavy equipment that many members brought themselves.
"To have the membership willing and able to bring in their equipment is big for us," said Cicini.
While most of the damage on the golf course was contained to the fairway, just up Martzvile Road, Bloomingail's Gift Shop was destroyed.
"The worst part of it is the roof came down right where the counter and where a customer or I would have been standing. Came right down there," said Gail Smith, Owner of Bloomingail's Gift Shop.
The 156-year-old former church had been a second home for owner Gail Smith for nearly 30 years. The 87-year-old said she's weathered many storms in the brick-and-mortar building, but it was this one that wiped out everything.
"My mother used to say, 'Get out of that building. A big storm is coming;' I said I'm safer here than on the road," added Smith.
Following the destruction, Smith said she doesn't know what the next step is, but she is grateful for all the continued support she's receiving from the community.
"They are contacting me constantly; they are calling me on my landline and my cell phone, and all of them are, "I'm praying for you." I've been there so long I'm just a part of a lot of families.
According to PPL's outage map, close to 4,000 people are still without power in the Berwick region. The utility estimates it could be late tomorrow before power is restored to homes and businesses.