As the tri-state area braces for potentially dangerous heat this weekend, many residents are still grappling with the aftermath of Thursday’s powerful storms that swept through New York City and parts of New Jersey.

The severe weather brought down trees and power lines, leaving thousands without electricity and blocking roads across several neighborhoods. In Ridgewood, Queens, one massive tree crushed a parked vehicle, snapped utility lines, and made a residential street impassable.

Similar damage was reported in Fresh Meadows, where intense rainfall and high winds tore through the area. In Maspeth, one man recounted discovering his van totaled beneath a fallen tree.

“She tells me the car’s done. I asked what she meant, and she said, ‘Come outside,’” he said. “That’s when I saw the tree on top of the van.”

Another resident described the scene as something out of a horror movie: “The lights started flickering like in a scary film. Then a tree branch fell—and suddenly the entire tree uprooted and crushed a truck right outside our window.”

Across New Jersey, the storm caused widespread outages and downed trees in towns such as Cranford. Utility crews have been working to restore power and clear debris ahead of what forecasters say will be a punishing stretch of heat.

With extreme temperatures expected in the coming days, officials are ramping up preparations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman are scheduled to hold separate briefings to address emergency plans and public safety measures.

Residents are urged to take precautions during the heatwave, particularly those without power or access to air conditioning following Thursday’s storm.