265 residents displaced by wind damage
Apartment building to remain evacuated until systems repairs confirmed, officials say
LANSDALE » Dozens of families remained displaced Thursday from the Crossing at Stanbridge apartment building on Jenkins Avenue that was damaged by heavy storms on Wednesday afternoon.
Borough officials said Thursday that a total of 265 occupants live in about 150 apartment units within the damaged building, with none hurt but all still displaced as of Thursday afternoon.
“Those residents who were home when the incident occurred were evacuated from the building, and many are staying with friends and family or in local hotels,” said a statement from borough Fire Marshal Rick Lesniak.
“Those without transportation or alternative housing were transported by North Penn School District buses to Penndale Middle School, where the American Red
Cross and property management worked together to assist approximately 30 families,” he said.
No injuries were reported among residents or emergency personnel, and in addition to the roof damage, about a dozen apartments sustained water damage from exposure to the heavy rains, Lesniak said Thursday.
“The building will remain evacuated until the property owner can confirm that all building safety and mechanical systems are properly operating,” he said.
On Wednesday night, the American Red Cross’s Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter provided temporary housing for 13 units totaling 36 residents displaced by the storm, according to Regional Communications Director Dave Skutnik, with more possible Thursday as the roof repairs continue.
The Red Cross also responded to incidents in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties caused by Wednesday’s storms, giving recovery assistance to “a handful” of people, with several more in Philadelphia. Safety tips for power outages from the Red Cross include using flashlights instead of candles in the dark, keeping generators outdoors in a well-ventilated area, turning off and unplugging all unnecessary electrical equipment including sensitive electronics, and keeping your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
The Red Cross also encourages those who suffer from power outages to throw away any food, particularly meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers, that is exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees for two hours or more. A full freezer will keep low temperatures for about 48 hours without power, while a half-full will keep cold for about 24 hours if the door remains cold, and if food is colder than 40 degrees and still has ice crystals on it, it can be safely refrozen.
Lesniak added that residents are encouraged to prepare themselves for more severe weather by securing loose objects on their property to prevent damage during strong winds, using surge protectors on home appliances, fully charging all electronics when possible, and testing smoke detectors regularly and replacing them every 10 years.