Lightning strike at Delaware County grade school forces evacuation

Lightning struck Cardinal John Foley Regional grade school in Havertown Tuesday morning.
@OakmontFireCo/Twitter

A cluster of storms has pounded most of the Philadelphia region this week with heavy downpours, lightning, thunder and dense fog.

On Tuesday, a Catholic grade school in Delaware County was evacuated after lightning struck the building in the morning.

Cardinal John Foley Regional, a K-8 school located in Havertown, said the weather knocked out all communication services in the building, prompting administrators to dismiss students early. Students were sent to the gymnasium until parents or caretakers arrived.

The school said classes will be canceled Wednesday too.

The Oakmont Fire Company responded to the scene but said no injuries were reported. "[T]he staff did a great job evacuating the building," the fire officials tweeted.

The school, which is part of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was established in September 2012 by merging Annunciation BVM and St. Denis parishes.

Parents are asked to call Annunciation BVM for more information.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The warning is expected to be in effect through the evening.