Non-Surgical Knee Pain and Arthritis Specialists in Hockessin, DE

A path of destruction can be seen from the air, showing snapped trees and damaged homes.

The National Weather Service said the storm damage left behind by severe storms in Delaware was caused by straight-line winds, not a tornado.

NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) -- The National Weather Service said the storm damage left behind by severe storms on Monday night in New Castle County, Delaware was caused by straight-line winds, not a tornado.

Meteorologists made that determination after surveying the Newark and Hockessin areas on Tuesday.

The NWS says straight-line winds are thunderstorm winds that have no rotation and therefore are not a tornado.

The survey team in New Castle County, DE has confirmed that damage in the Newark/Hockessin area was due to straight line winds. #DEwx

— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 8, 2023

"One of the things we are looking for is whether trees are blown on top of each other or apart," said Robert Deal, a meteorologist for the NWS. "If they are all blown down in the same direction or away from each other that's more generally straight-line winds."

A path of destruction can be seen from the air, showing snapped trees and damaged homes.

"We're in the White Clay Creek Forest and it's not as simple as saying, 'Oh a couple of trees came down,'" said neighbor Mark Sanford. "This forest came down around this neighborhood and this community."

Two large trees fell onto Sanford's home where he lives with his wife Nancy and 15-year-old dog Ginger in the Lamatan West Neighborhood of Newark, Delaware.

"Two huge trees on the back side of the house crisscrossed and came down. Probably 80- to 100-foot trees back there," Sanford said.

Sanford said he was working upstairs in his home office around 6 p.m. Monday when he heard high-pitched winds.

"We ran to the basement and by the time we got to the basement, crashing trees came down around us," Sanford said.

A large portion of the upstairs came crashing down to the first floor.

The entire community is now dealing with extensive property damage.

"Again, the forest is down here," Sanford said. "We're going to need relief, the state, FEMA, something to come in to provide support that insurance is not picking up."

Molly McVety

UPDATE: This story has been edited to adjust an incorrect address for the new cell towers. The Hockessin location will be 7259 Lancaster Pike.

If you're having trouble with reliable cell service where you live and travel in New Castle County, there may be a solution on the way.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer on Monday announced they are accepting bids for cellular providers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to set up new cell towers in the county's "dead zones."

Meyer was joined by the county's chief of technology and administrative services, Michael Hojnicki, at the Hockessin Public Library on Monday afternoon to announce the sites of the new towers on county property.

Where will the new towers go

In February, New Castle County commissioned a third-party technology company to conduct a study to evaluate where in the county had the worst cellular reception. Most of these dead zones were focused around southern New Castle County, near Odessa and Townsend as well as rural parts of northern New Castle County like Centreville and Hockessin.

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The study finalized a list of five priority locations for new cell towers to be erected, and the final plan was narrowed down to three.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting was set to take place Thursday, Aug. 17, at noon with prospective bidders, and the proposals will be accepted until Sept. 6.

Cost of the project

The county will spend $1.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money on the project, but the final cost will be confirmed after a proposal has been chosen by the county government. County Executive Meyer also stated that there is an opportunity for New Castle County to earn revenue from these proposals to expand construction to other priority areas.

"If it ends up costing more than that, we'll look at finding more funds either from federal dollars or other sources," Meyer said. "I think it's more realistic that there's going to be revenue coming in attached to the tower that we can use to build more."

A public comment period will open up after the Sept. 6 deadline for cell tower proposals, but according to Hojnicki, this may not be for another estimated six months. The timeline for the permitting process and construction to begin is largely dependent on the details provided by cell service providers in their proposals.

Delaware’s small towns are fun day trip destinations with plenty of things to do. Aside from being quaint, Hockessin, Delaware is a historic town that has a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy when you’re looking for the ideal place to go on a family outing. As you read on and discover all there is to do in Hockessin, DE, you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s only a short distance from Wilmington too!

Both A Dairy Farm And A Creamery, Delaware's Hopkins Farm Is An Underrated Day Trip Destination

No matter why you choose to visit Hockessin – to shop, to dine, or to explore the outdoors – you’ll have a wonderful time getting acquainted with the gorgeous Brandywine Valley. Best of all, it’s just a short distance from Wilmington, so you don’t need to drive too far to find yourself in an entirely new world.

To learn more about things to do during your outing to Hockessin, DE, take a look at this piece about the House of William And Merry and this article about Lettie’s Kitchen.

Find more day trip in Delaware ideas in this post too.

More to Explore

Marla S. | April 27, 2023

Where can you take a day trip in Delaware?

In addition to spending time in Hockessin, check out the following day trip in Delaware destinations:

Take a look at this article for more day trips in Delaware ideas too.

What are some of the best small towns in Delaware?

Aside from Hockessin, here are some more of the best small towns in Delaware:

For more suggestions of where to go, check out these best small towns in Delaware too.

There are so many things to do in Hockessin, Delaware, it is one of those little towns that hide some most amazing secrets. But this shouldn’t be surprising; almost all of Delaware’s population lives in a small town (rather than our one “big city” of Wilmington). Each town is full of character, charm, and natural beauty. Let’s examine Hockessin. This New Castle County isn’t far from Wilmington, but when you visit Hockessin neighborhoods and attractions, it feels like you’re in another world.

Your Ultimate Guide To Spring Attractions And Activities In Delaware

We’re so lucky that our state has these sorts of quaint, charming towns to show off! What’s your favorite small town in Delaware? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Not near Hockessin, Delaware but are looking to explore more in the state? Check out this list of other charming small towns in DE!

More to Explore

Rachel Raimondi | August 02, 2022

What is Delaware known for?

Despite its small size of 1,982 square miles, Delaware is known for quite a few things such as

Are there any beach towns in Delaware?

Lying along the Atlantic coastline (and with several lakes as well), there are definitely some great beach towns in Delaware. Lewes Beach is great if you have kids with you and are looking for safe waters with lifeguards on the ocean. And the town is full of things to do like visiting museums, shopping, and dining. Millsboro abuts the 15-mile-long Indian River in southern Delaware. Not only is the town historic and full of dining and shopping, but you can also boat, fish, and swim in the river.

Which state parks in Delaware are the best?

With 17 state parks in Delaware, there is outdoor recreation to be had across its entirety. Some of the best parks include:

New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer announced a requests for proposals for a couple of cell phone towers in the Hockessin and Middletown areas.

Hockessin, a hilly and heavily wooded area west of Wilmington, has struggled with cell phone service over the years. The sprawling Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area also has its share of areas with spotty reception.

Cell phone reception became an issue during the Covid-19 pandemic when families found a lack of broadband access and spotty reception made distance home learning more difficult. New Castle County rolled out WiFi service outside its libraries to aid students and parents.

A full video of the announcement is below:

The proposed towers would be financed with American Rescue Plan Act funds at a cost of $1.3 million.

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The State of Delaware has its own broadband program that uses federal funds to expand current broadband cable systems to areas where it is not profitable for carriers to expand service.

It is likely that a few hard-to-reach areas will need high speed wireless broadband service.

County involvement in cell phone reception is not a new topic, with a 2011 report calling for an involvement in the issue.

Delaware has among the highest average internet speeds in the nation and sometimes ranks at the top. However, it also has “broadband deserts.”

The cell phone initiative comes after Meyer has announced a bid for governor in 2024. Current Gov. John Carney is term limited.

Delaware Technical Community College is moving into the second year of its bachelors degree program in education.

The program was quietly launched in response to a worsening teacher shortage.

Delaware public school superintendents met with the leadership of Delaware Technical Community College in 2019 looking for help in alleviating a teacher shortage that worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Delaware Tech had already created a bachelor’s degree in nursing program in 2017 in response to the state’s healthcare sector’s needs. The leaders were hoping the college would do the same for educators.

The program has about 80 students, all of whom have already completed an associate degree program in education. The first cohort started in fall 2022, and those students are preparing to begin a year-long residency in public schools this fall.

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The residency is the final component students need to graduate from the program and differs from traditional student teaching in that it lasts a full year, as opposed to a few months, Del Tech officials said.

Another feature of the program is that students are eligible for dual certification in elementary education and special education, expanding employment opportunities and enhancing their ability to cater to diverse student needs.

Students can easily transition to the BSE program from the Department of Education’s K-12 Teacher Academy Pathway offered in Delaware high schools for aspiring teachers. Through this high school pathway, schools are creating the pipeline for students they hope will return to their home districts and charters to teach.

Eligible students can take advantage of free tuition through the SEED scholarship program that pay for college expenses. And the College offers flexibility with courses, recognizing that many students are juggling school with jobs and family responsibilities.

Delaware Tech has campuses in all three of the state’s counties.