It may have felt like a tornado blew through Gloucester County, New Jersey packing 85 mph winds during Tuesday's storm, but the National Weather Service says there was no evidence of a twister touching down.

A team from the NWS toured several locations in the county Wednesday morning to determine if a tornado was responsible for the widespread damage. NWS meteorologist Gary Szatkowski said the damage was consistent with straight-line winds.

Gloucester County was one of the hardest hit areas during the fierce storms. At the Deptford Mall, several witnesses described what they thought was a tornado. A car was flipped over on its roof and parts of the mall’s exterior were ripped off.

Federal forecasters confirmed Wednesday afternoon a macroburst — strong winds produced by a 6 mile wide or larger downdraft — blew winds of 85 mph in East Greenwhich Township, Gloucester County.

Nearby in Sewell, Vicky Tench was driving down Heritage Road with her brother when winds punched down trees right in front of their car. She recorded the whole thing and credited her brother with keeping them safe.

Utility officials say some residents in storm-ravaged areas of southern New Jersey may not get their power restored until the weekend.

Atlantic City Electric said crews were working around the clock to clear toppled trees and other debris that were hampering restoration efforts. The utility's crews were being assisted by workers from other utilities in New Jersey and several other states. Nearly 280,000 customers were without power during the height of the storm.

The Red Cross opened two reception centers in Gloucester County, where residents can get food, water and power for their phones and medical equipment. The centers are located at the Gloucester County Complex at 1200 North Delsea in Clayton and the Mount Royal Firehouse at 5 Mantua Blvd. in Mount Royal.

Across the river in Pennsylvania, there was a similar scene of destruction. Trees sheered off parts of homes in Gulph Mills, Montgomery County and Brookhaven, Delaware County. Tim Wilwert was looking out the window when his oak tree started to sway.

"I see the tree going back and forth and back and forth and the thing starts coming toward me and I took off runnin' out the front door — screamin' for my neighbors," he said. Branches ripped the outer wall clear off exposing the entire house — including the attic leaving storage bins teetering on the floor's edge.

Drivers trapped between down electric wires and trees along busy U.S. 1 in Glenn Mills, Delaware County abandoned their vehicles. A day later, they still sit waiting to be freed.

Szatkowski said other counties in both states that suffered major damage did not request a tornado survey from the agency.

First responders and emergency officials in South Jersey were not immune to Mother Nature's fury Tuesday as strong storms severely damaged a fire headquarters and lightning strikes shocked 911 dispatchers.

The roof of Mantua Township's firehouse was ripped clear off and sent flying into the trees at the height of the storm. Water poured into the station's meeting room, kitchen, bunks and administrative offices causing even more damage.

"Our department has gone to [Superstorm] Sandy when that hit, and this I guess would compare to Sandy, but for here, it was bad," said firefighter Shawn Layton. He was inside the firehouse when the storm hit.

The damage didn't stop Layton and his team from responding, though. He said the department went out to more than 70 calls following the violent storm.

"It has been a long day and a half so far," he said.

The storm brought 85 mph winds, blinding rain and thousands of lightening strikes as it barreled through the region.

Several lightning bolts connected with Salem County's 911 Dispatch Center in Mannington Township.

An emergency dispatcher tells NBC10 five dispatchers were on-duty answering calls during the storm when they were shocked by the strikes. The injuries were non life-threatening.

Back in Mantua, the department is still using the firehouse as their headquarters despite being exposed to the elements. It's not clear how long repairs may take.

A sandwich shop that hosted a benefit to raise money for a fallen Philadelphia Police officer's family will present a $2,500 check to Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey on Thursday.

Ricci's Hoagies, on 11th Street near Ellsworth in South Philadelphia, is donating $2 of the proceeds for every hoagie sold May 20 to the family of fallen Sgt. Robert Wilson III. Wilson was killed in the line of duty March 5 when he got into a shootout with two men as they robbed a GameStop store on Lehigh Avenue near 22nd Street.

Wilson left behind two young sons. Since the officer's death, several Philadelphia businesses have hosted benefits to raise money for his family. Community members have also stepped up to throw birthday parties for Wilson's sons.

Rich Ricci, owner of the hoagie shop, will present the check to Ramsey to give to Wilson's family.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Those are the terrifying words police say an armed suspect uttered to an employee during the robbery of a Wawa in Northeast Philadelphia.

The incident happened about 3 a.m. on June 23 at the Wawa in the 6900 block of Castor Avenue in the city’s Oxford Circle section.

The male entered the store, approached the counter, lifted his shirt to display the handle of a gun and said “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” to an employee.

The employee gave the male an undisclosed amount of money before running out of the store.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to contact police.

Families coming to Philadelphia for medical care at the end of September may have some trouble finding a place to sleep while their loved ones receive treatment.

The City of Philadelphia will host the World Meeting of Families Congress from Sept. 22 to 25, and the Pope will visit from Sept. 26 to 27. A nonprofit that offers free or low-cost housing to families who come to the Philadelphia area for medical treatment is looking for more places for those families to stay during that time.

Hosts for Hospitals began a five-month campaign in May with a goal of adding 50 homes for patient-families during the papal visit. Currently, the campaign has secured nine new host-homes, with two added within the last week.

“Already each day scores and scores of patient-families need lodging assistance,” said Mike Aichenbaum, executive director of HfH. “Unless we as a community do something, an unbelievable number of patient-families will have nowhere to stay.”

All hotels within 100 miles of the city have been fully booked during the time of the Pope’s visit since May, according to the nonprofit’s website. HfH expects all other patient-family lodging facilities in Philadelphia to be fully booked as well.

Aichenbaum said HfH currently lodges 15 to 20 patient-families each night. He said HfH “desperately” needs at least 50 more host-homes for patient-families during the Pope’s visit.

The patient-family lodging need will pertain both to patient-families who normally will be coming to Philadelphia area hospitals for specialized medical care and to those families that experience medical emergencies in association with their being in town to experience the Papal visit, according to a press release from HfH.

While hosting services like Ronald McDonald House only allow families of children to stay in their homes, HfH accepts families of patients of all ages.

“Hosts for Hospitals is basically one of those pay-it-forward stories,” Steven Schiff of HfH said. “It’s complete strangers opening up their homes to people in need.”

HfH has over 500 host-homes in their network, but Schiff said not all are active at once and many have conditions, such as length of stay, for hosting.

In addition to the city’s 1.5 million residents, an estimated 1.5 million visitors will crowd the area during the week of Sept. 20, when Pope Francis makes his way around Philadelphia.

According to HfH, host-homes must be located within an hour drive of Center City.

HfH serves 75 hospitals and care facilities in the Philadelphia area, according to its website. Aichenbaum said HfH is partnering with both the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to help recruit new hosts. HfH partners with nearly all area hospitals providing specialized medical care to out-of-town patients.

Host-homes need only provide their guests with a comfortable bed, bathroom access, and a feeling of home. Guests are responsible for their own food and transportation, HfH said in a press release.

To offer your home to a patient-family in need, go to http://www.hostsforhospitals.org/website/hosts/host-application.

"Please step aside, or enjoy a ride."

That's the new phrase people will be hearing in Atlantic City when tram cars are approaching.

After Wildwood's tram company objected to the AC trams' usage of the coveted "Watch the tram car please", a weeklong naming contest was created by Eddie Davis, host of the Lite Rock Morning Show on 96.9 WFPG in Atlantic City.

Davis announced on Thursday morning's broadcast that Debbie Kintish-Reeves, from Ventnor Heights, New Jersey, won the $1000 prize with her winning entry.

According to a release, the new Atlantic City Tram message will debut during the Fourth of July weekend.

The Philadelphia Police Department is looking to the public for help identifying a man who crawled into a Rittenhouse home through a window and made off with several items.

Surveillance video captured the man about 10 p.m. on June 13, pacing up and down the 1700 block of Lombard Street, and then attempting to open the window of a private home.

About 15 minutes later, on the fourth try, he wedges the window open and hoists himself into the home.

The man made off with items valued at $3000 from the house, the Philadelphia Police Department said in a press release.

The Philadelphia Police Department described the man as between 35 to 45 years old, thin build, receding hair line, mustache and beard. He is approximately 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall.

If you have any information about the man, call Detective Kovach #634 at Central Detective Division at (215) 686-3093. If you would like to submit a tip to Philadelphia Police Department’s tip line, call (215) 686-TIPS(8477), email tips@PhillyPolice.com or text PPDTIP (773847).

Police urged those who see this person not to approach him and to call 9-1-1 instead.

Reading Terminal Market merchants held a special breakfast Thursday morning to honor the Amtrak derailment first responders.

The May 12 derailment left eight people dead and over 200 hurt, after the train derailed and rolled off the tracks.

The free breakfast was held today from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the City Kitchen area of the market to recognize first responders’ participation in the search and rescue efforts for the Amtrak passengers.

In attendance included Reading Terminal Market Manger Anuj Gupta, Manager, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, and Fire Commissioner Derrick J. V. Sawyer.

A Burlington City man was arrested Wednesday and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Police Chief Anthony Wallace announced Gerard Cameron, 41, was charged with three counts of child endangerment.

The distribution charge is considered a second-degree crime. The two counts of possession are third-degree charges.

Cameron, of the 900 block of Olive Street, is a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. His case will be turned over to a grand jury to determine if there's enough evidence to move forward with the case.

Investigators allege Cameron downloaded multiple images of child pornography onto his home computer, in addition to using software to make the material available online for others to download.

The Burlington City Police Department, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit, the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Unit and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations are among the agencies working on the case.

Cameron was in Burlington County Jail on $100,000 bail. If he posts bail, the Burlington City resident will be forbidden from using the Internet or having contact with minors.

Philadelphia and international religious leaders held a news conference Thursday morning in the Vatican after meeting to discuss the latest preparations for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia from September 22-25. They touched on several key points leading up to September’s huge reception, as well as the visit by Pope Francis on September 26-27.

On size:

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said the event and papal visit it is predicted to be the largest ever gathering in the history of the United States.

"Philadelphia will become the capital city of families," Paglia said.

“We expect between 750,000 to one million people to attend the Festival of Families on Saturday, and more than a million people for the mass of Pope Francis on Sunday,” said Archbishop Charles Chaput.

Philadelphia’s Auxiliary Bishop, John McIntyre estimated one to two million will attend Pope Francis’ Mass.

15,000 delegates from around the world are expected to participate in the World Meeting of Families. 11,821 have already paid to attend.

On inclusivity:

Ron Belgau, of Notre Dame University, will give a talk on the issue of gay families. “We want it to be a force of transformation in society.

Chaput on gay families: "People attracted to the same sex are welcome to attend."

According to McIntyre, “Approximately 50 of our presenters are from outside of the United States. We also drew from presenters from other faiths: a Mormon elder, a Presbyterian, Evangelical Lutheran and a Rabbi. Thirty percent of our speakers are not Catholic.”

Guest Appearances:

Andrea Bocelli, the Latin American artist Juanes and the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform Saturday night during the Festival of Families.

Cardinal Patrick O’Malley will give a keynote speech on the joy of the gospel of life.

On logistics:

Chaput: $30 million of the $45 million budget has been raised. That includes money for crowd safety, infrastructure and cleanup.

Chaput estimated the World Meeting of Families and papal visit will fill 65,000 hotel rooms within a 60 mile radius.

The summit hopes to draw 10,000 volunteers – 6,100 are already signed up.

A New Jersey couple’s dream house quickly turned to a nightmare after a stalker’s letters forced them to desert their $1.3 million Westfield home.

Just three days after they bought the house last June, the family received a letter from a man known as “The Watcher,” who claimed his family owns the property and has been watching the home for nearly a century, according to NJ.com.

“Why are you here?” the letter read. “I will find out.”

The letter also asked, "Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested?"

A second letter reportedly arrived two weeks later and then a third, a month after that one.

“Have they found what is in the walls yet?” one letter asked. Another asked “who has the bedrooms facing the street? I’ll know as soon as you move in.”

The family never moved into the home and is now trying to sell the property, but the suspicious "Watcher" is scaring away potential buyers.

A stalker was certainly not what the family expected when they moved to Westfield. The township was ranked 30th on Neighborhood Scout’s list of Safest Cities in America when they bought the home in 2014 and currently ranks 24th.

“Our police department conducted an exhaustive investigation based on the factual circumstances and evidence available,” Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky said at a Town Council meeting Tuesday night.

The couple believes the previous owners received a letter from “The Watcher” shortly before they sold the house and have sued, claiming that the previous owners withheld information that would have potentially hurt the home’s value or possibly eliminate the sale altogether. 

Like last week, a large area of low pressure will travel from near St. Louis and track near or just north of Philadelphia. This one doesn’t have tropical moisture, but there’s more than enough to produce heavy rain for at least part of our weekend. Here are the computer model maps for both Saturday and Sunday afternoon:

Watch the "L." It’s near Pittsburgh Saturday and then moving into southeast New York Sunday. That track — north of Philadelphia — would lead to a much lower rain chance for the second half of the weekend. It would also allow warmer air to move in Sunday, and even some sunshine.

A track south of Philadelphia would lead to some rain Sunday morning and cooler weather too. But the trend has clearly been for the northern track — good news for Sunday!

There are some problems for Saturday, though. There WILL be rain moving in, and it certainly looks like the heaviest will be late in the day and at night.

Computer models suggest 1-3 inches of rain, plus possible thunderstorms. Once the rain starts, there will be many hours of it. This is not just a few showers. The best chance of dry weather Saturday is in the morning. The earlier the better for your outdoor activities.

THE FORECAST

SATURDAY

• Philadelphia-area: Cloudy and cool. Rain developing — becoming heavy late in the day and at night. High 72. Chance of rain 40% in the morning…near 100% by night
   
• Jersey Shore: Clouding up. Rain develops in afternoon. Heavy at night. High 68. Chance of rain 20% in the morning….near 100% by night. Atlantic City ocean temp: 71
   
• Delaware Beaches: Clouding up. Rain develops in afternoon. Heavy at night. High 72. Chance of rain 40% in the morning…near 100% by night.
   
• Poconos: Rain, becoming heavy at times. Local flooding possible. Rainy at night, too. Chilly, with High 58. Chance of rain near 100%

SUNDAY

• Philadelphia-area: Clouds and sun. Warmer. High 78. Chance of rain 15%
   
• Jersey Shore: Sun and clouds. Warmer. High 78. Chance of rain 10%
   
• Delaware Beaches: Sun and clouds. Warmer. High 83. Chance of rain 10%
   
• Poconos: Mostly cloudy. Chance of a shower. Not as chilly. High 67. Chance of rain 40%
   

A car burst into flames after five vehicles collided along a North Philadelphia street.

The crash happened just before 4 p.m. along the 4800 block of N. Front Street in the city's Feltonville neighborhood, fire officials said.

A number of people were injured in the crash, fire officials said. There are reports that at least one person was trapped inside a vehicle and that another car was burning.