Jul 27, 2009 6:58 pm US/Eastern
Cleanup Continues Following Brutal Thunderstorms
Severe Storms Wreak Havoc All Over Tri-State On Sunday, Toppling Trees And Flooding Streets
Lightning Strike Claims 1 Life, Injures 3 In New Jersey
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (CBS) ―
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CBS 2 HD viewer Simon Gifter took this image of a toppled tree on a car in New Jersey on Sunday, July 26, 2009.
CBS
Cleanup crews were hard at work Monday after severe thunderstorms pummeled the region Sunday night, leaving tree limbs and other debris strewn about streets and lawns.
Snapped, spiked and downed trees littered the landscape in Somerset County's Bedminster Township following severe storms on Sunday night, raising talks of a potential tornado among the locals.
"We're positive that a tornado had to have come through here," township resident Valerie Woods told CBS 2 HD.
In Newark, one man was killed and three others were burned and unconscious after lightning struck a tree they were huddling beneath in the woods off Mt. Vernon Place.
In other parts of Newark and Jersey City, amid the rain and reports of funnel clouds, residents couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"I saw really, really heavy ice come down, and big pieces too," said Newark resident Mario Hernandez.
Christine Saracino and her family in Brooklyn spent several hours without power after a downed tree took out a line.
"There was a big gust of wind and I heard a split, and the tree split in half up here, the electric pole split in like three pieces. There were sparks all over the place we had to call 911," Saracino said.
Brooklyn resident Rivka Ariel also heard that same frightening sound and rushed to her window to see a fallen tree outside.
"I heard this big crash then I was like oh my gosh, and I ran to the window and I saw that a tree across the street had fallen all over my neighbors front lawn," she said.
Mike Para told CBS 2 he's feeling lucky. His favorite backyard chair was covered by branches from his neighbor's tree, but he wasn't in the chair when it happened.
"I was in Staten Island and she called me up and said a tree fell on your backyard and come and take a look at it. When I did thank God nobody got hurt because this is where I sit and eat," he said.
At LaGuardia Airport, the wild weather brought flight delays, cancellations and new meaning to the term "airport lodging" for passengers unable to get a room in booked hotels.
And that meant some people were forced to sleep at the airport, wherever they could.
"Well, we're trying to connect to Orlando and they cancelled the flight," said John Sumulong. "They cancelled the flight and said there's no hotels."
While the flights are said to be back on a regular schedule on Monday, another round of expected afternoon showers could change all that.
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CBS 2's Scott Rapoport and Meteorologist Elise Finch contributed to this report.
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