Newswatch 16’s Valeria Quiñones spoke with residents who are still dealing with the damage.
SCRANTON, Pa. — Large tree branches are still hanging from power lines in Scranton’s West Side Saturday afternoon after severe weather hit the city Friday night.
On Beddoe Court, a tree sits wrapped in downed lines.
The short but thunderous storm also left thousands of residents without power. For many, that means no ability to cook food or cool down. Laura Osbourne has lived in Scranton all her life and says she’s never experienced anything like this.
“Never. Never, and he checked this morning. I think the temperature is supposed to go up to about 96. We’re in the middle of a heat wave,” Osbourne said.
Osbourne says she contacted PPL for an update on when the power will be back, but hasn’t received a definitive response.
“They told us there was a crew there working. There’s no crew. There’s no truck, and we just feel like we’re being neglected,” Osbourne said.
Her main concern is her neighbors.
Most of them are unable to leave their homes to find a place to cool down or get what they need.
“My next-door neighbor needs oxygen. The second door up is a 98-year-old shut-in — hasn’t been out of the house in almost 3 years. Two doors up is a woman that’s completely shut-in. She uses a cane and a walker. Across the street, we’ve got senior citizens, so within 8 houses, 6 of us are handicapped,” Osbourne said.
Almost 24 hours after the power went out, a single mother just down the street says she, like many others in her neighborhood, can’t afford to lose a week’s worth of groceries.
“It’s just — this is, this is crazy. They should get stuff worked on, you know? They have to pick and choose between, you know, am I going to pay a bill or am I going to buy food for my family,” Charlenne Gamez said.
Newswatch 16 contacted PPL for a statement, but did not hear back. As temperatures climb, residents hope relief will come sooner than later.