PHILADELPHIA – Thousands of people in Montgomery and Delaware counties are still without power four days after last Thursday’s storms brought down trees and power lines. 

The outages are not only frustrating but can also be dangerous, especially with the current heatwave.

What we know:

PECO crews are working tirelessly in the scorching heat to restore power to homes and businesses affected by last week’s powerful storms. 

The sound of generators fills the air in Cheltenham, where residents like Lee Wilson have been without power since Thursday night. 

Wilson notes that in their old neighborhood with large trees, power outages are not uncommon.

Residents in Haverford are also facing dangerous temperatures as power outages continue to affect nearly 5,000 PECO customers. With no relief from the heat, families are forced to endure uncomfortable conditions.

What they’re saying:

Montgomery County

Lee Wilson, a Cheltenham resident, expressed gratitude for having purchased a generator years ago, recalling a previous 12-day outage during Hurricane Sandy. “I bought the first generator I could get my hands on, luckily it was big enough,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leonard Bodo from Roslyn, who doesn’t have a generator, is seeking cooler refuge at his son’s house. “It’s warm – it’s too warm,” Bodo remarked.

Dan Tyler, also from Roslyn, shared the challenges of working from home without power. 

“All the windows are closed, all the doors are closed…lights off automatically trying to keep cool and stay downstairs,” he explained. Tyler is hopeful for power restoration soon and plans to visit the mall or store items in friends’ fridges if outages persist.

Delaware County

Bill Hayward and his family are among those impacted, having lost two refrigerators’ worth of food. “It’s hot, and we’ve got four unhappy campers in the house right now,” Hayward shared.

Around the corner, Janine Nolan and her family of five are experiencing similar challenges. 

Their power was restored at midnight but went out again at 8 a.m. leaving their home at a sweltering 80 degrees. 

“We can’t even go up to the floor where the bedrooms are; it’s just stifling hot,” Nolan explained. The family has resorted to setting up an air mattress in the basement to escape the heat.

What’s next:

Residents are managing as best as they can while awaiting power restoration. 

PECO crews continue their efforts, and further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

The Fourth of July falls on a Friday, and parents will need to know Delaware’s stringent fireworks laws before allowing their kids to set off any fireworks over the long holiday weekend.

And your child’s safety is at stake as well, as the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission notes teens 15 to 19 years old had the highest estimated rate of emergency room visits related to fireworks injuries.

Here’s what parent sin Delaware should know.

How old does my child have to be to set off fireworks in Delaware?

According to the Delaware State Fire Marshall, your teen will need to be at least 18 years old to purchase and set off specific fireworks in Delaware.

Which fireworks can my teen use in Delaware?

Your child will be able to set off ground-based displays, sparklers and other fireworks which are federally regulated fireworks and aren’t airborne or explosive.

You will only be able to use fireworks on July Fourth in Delaware

Several fireworks are banned in Delaware, and you’ll only be able to use the legal fireworks on Friday, July 4.

July Fourth is one of four days when fireworks use is legal in Delaware, along with third day of Diwali, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

“The use of consumer fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, aerial mortars, and anything that leaves the ground is and has always been prohibited to possess or use in the State of Delaware,” read a recent fireworks alert from the Delaware State Fire Marshall. “Novelty items such as sparklers and ground-based fountains are only permitted to be used on July 4.

“Consumer fireworks are frequently advertised by mail, radio, television, and billboards for retail sale to Delaware residents to purchase and use. These advertised consumer aerial fireworks are prohibited to possess or discharge.”

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Thousands gathered at Delaware Park Casino on June 22 for the third annual Reggae in the Park, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, food, and culture that has become one of the state’s largest cultural events.

Despite occasional raindrops, the energy at Delaware’s largest Caribbean music festival never broke stride, with attendees dancing, laughing and celebrating the diversity that defines Caribbean Heritage Month.

With Delaware home to nearly 6,000 Jamaicans and more than 13,000 other West Indians, the festival is an annual highlight in the state’s Caribbean community. Flags from Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were carried with pride as festivalgoers celebrated their shared and unique backgrounds.

“It feels good. I usually don’t see this that often,” said Algama Mutausami, a Delaware resident originally from Guyana. “Being out here with people of different Caribbean heritage is wonderful. You get to see all the different cultures.”

This year, the festival moved from Glasgow Park in Newark to Delaware Park Casino, a shift organizers said was necessary after last year’s crowd of 20,000 stretched the Glasgow Park to its limit. Now, with 300 acres to work with, Delaware Park Casino provides ample space for more than 200 vendors selling Caribbean cuisine, drinks, accessories, and apparel. The expanded grounds also made room for a lively kid zone filled with bounce houses and games, highlighting the festival’s broad, multigenerational appeal.

Reggae in the Park attendees reflect on heritage, identity and cultural

For many attendees, Reggae in the Park was a chance to connect with their heritage — and to share those traditions with friends. Eighteen-year-old Siani Amedee, who held a St. Lucian flag in honor of her father’s heritage, attended with friends fresh off their high school graduation.

“My dad grew up there and my mom is from Trinidad and Tobago. But I just represent the Saint Lucia side,” Amedee said, smiling.

For her friend Jonathan Cerezo, who has no Caribbean roots, the festival was a powerful introduction to the culture. He was drawn in by the festival’s infectious spirit.

“It’s my very first time here,” Cerezo said. “I like how it brings everybody together. It feels very united. I’m really happy to be here.”

HERE TO HELP: Free furniture, home essentials offered to Wilmington families in need

Jeff Edmond, whose parents immigrated from Haiti, found the festival to be an eye-opener. He hadn’t experienced events like this growing up in Delaware.

“You get to see your heritage, try different foods, see different things people do, listen to different music,” he said.

That vibe was driven by high-energy performances from local and regional artists, with DJ sets spinning reggae, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, soca and Afrobeats throughout the day. The excitement peaked with a headlining performance by Grammy-nominated Jamaican artist Mr. Vegas, best known for his 1998 dancehall anthem “Heads High.”

Reggae in the Park aims to make Delaware Park Casino permanent home

Although it is a celebration, Reggae in the Park is meant to be more than just a day of music and food. It’s an opportunity for immigrants and their descendants to build a community in their adopted home. Suyen Estelow, cofounder of Reggae in the Park, explained that, as a nonprofit, the event exists to support the community and local vendors and to bring people together.

“We’re grateful for the community and the support,” Estelow said, noting that the event’s rapid growth is proof of how deeply that connection is desired in Delaware. “We hope to get more sponsors behind it so it can keep growing,” she added.

Looking ahead, Estelow said organizers are hopeful that Delaware Park Casino can become the festival’s permanent home where its spirit and impact can continue to expand.

And if Sunday’s turnout and energy were any indication, Reggae in the Park has found both the space and the momentum to keep growing.

You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.