Officials and first responders in Pennsylvanians are assessing and cleaning up the damage caused after severe storms swept across western and central parts of the state Tuesday..
Officials reported four deaths linked to the severe weather.
The National Weather Service had placed much of western and central Pennsylvania in an “enhanced risk” area for the severe storms on Tuesday, a risk category issued on average only six times per year in Pennsylvania. The line of storms that moved through the enhanced risk area traveled at speeds of 65-70 miles per hour, with high winds that caused damage. Pittsburgh International Airport recorded the third highest wind gust on record — at 71 miles per hour — and winds in Venango County measured 74 miles per hour.
Pennsylvania State Police reported a fatality in Greene County involving a tree that fell onto a vehicle. Pittsburgh officials said a man died when he was electrocuted by live wires in the South Side Slopes area of the city. In State College, police said a man was electrocuted trying to put out a mulch fire started by downed power lines. The Associated Press reported that a Ross Township man was killed by a fallen tree.
State officials said the storm system caused widespread infrastructure damage, hitting not only electric utility systems, but also roadways and telecommunications networks, including cellular service in some areas. The heavy winds and rain downed trees and utilities onto roadways, resulting in closures and widespread power outages in the western and central portions of the state.
According to Governor Josh Shapiro’s office, more than 555,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm. The greatest concentration of outages was in Allegheny County, and significant damage was reported in Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Indiana, Jefferson, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Pittsburgh’s 911 system experienced a temporary outage.
“This was not a typical weather event — it was a large-scale storm with serious impacts across multiple systems,” said Stephen M. DeFrank, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), which is working with utilities and state agencies to restore electric service.
“We knew that these storms had the potential to bring significant damages to Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. “Our staff prepared ahead of time, monitored the impacts of the storm last evening and overnight, and has been in touch with county emergency management partners to determine if any state assistance is needed for clean up and recovery. The Shapiro Administration will continue to work with local partners to support communities across Pennsylvania as they clean up after this storm and utilities work to restore power as quickly as possible.”
State transportation workers have been working to clear roadways affected by the storm so they can be reopened.
Meanwhile, more than 150 first responders have also been busy this week fighting two wildfires in Michaux State Forest Cumberland County. As of Wednesday night, the Thompson Hollow Fire was at 2,248 acres with 80% containment and the Hammonds Rocks Fire was at 470 acres with 100% containment.
No personal property damage or physical injuries have been reported due to the fires and all residents evacuated have been able to return to their homes, according to state officials. Sections of Thompson Hollow Road and Thompson Hollow Road remain closed.
Topics Windstorm Pennsylvania
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