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Crews Work To Restore Power In Morris County After Severe Weather Downs Trees, Power Lines

DOVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Thousands of people were left without power Monday after severe weather moved through parts of Morris County Sunday night.

Between the wood chippers and the power crews scattered throughout Dover and the surrounding area, you'll find Art Kirchner trying to put the pieces of his home back together.

The uprooted trees that now cover his house are evidence of a fast and furious storm that barreled through Sunday. Luckily, Kirchner and his wife weren't home when the trees came crashing through their roof, but other neighbors were home.

"All of a sudden, the wind came," said Dover resident Helen Lori. "I went in and shut all my windows, I couldn't see a thing."

Lori was outside saying hello to her neighbors who were having a birthday party for their 9-year-old when the storm hit.

"All of a sudden, the rain came," she said. "They all gathered around the tent and I thought 'boy if I were them I'd get up and go in the house.'"

But before they made it, trees started falling -- one onto a car, another onto a van and one into the house.

"A tree fell on top of the tent where the party was," said Dover resident Erick Lucero. "No one seemed harmed or scared, they were just like in disbelief."

Awestruck by nature's fury and thankful to be alive after a storm that packed a powerful punch.

"At one point, I seriously thought about going into the bathtub because I thought it was a tornado," said Wharton resident Phil Gutierrez.

Power crews said they are working around the clock to get electricity back to the more than 6,000 customers in Morris County who were left in the dark, but first they have to get through the debris and that will take time.

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