Cleanup crews and residents of Philadelphia and its surrounding areas began large-scale cleaning operations to remove the effects of a violent thunderstorm that hit the city and its outskirts Saturday evening. The storm — classified by meteorologists as a “downburst” — left tangible destruction, with strong winds ranging between 97 and 113 km/h cutting power lines, uprooting trees, and flooding streets. The storm also caused severe structural damage to several buildings, including the collapse of a building in West Philadelphia, which damaged several vehicles and disrupted traffic, as well as damage to the roof of a housing complex managed by the Housing Authority. The National Weather Service resolved the debate over the nature of this phenomenon, confirming that it was caused by straight-line winds and not a tornado. This comes as the United States experiences a wave of extreme weather including floods, wildfires, and severe heat waves. In an immediate response to the crisis, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a state of emergency in the city, pledging in an official statement to mobilize all local government resources to restore essential services and provide necessary support to those affected. City and Housing Authority officials said that emergency teams had successfully evacuated residents of damaged housing units and secured accommodations for them in nearby hotels, while relief operations and debris removal continue in affected areas.