Severe Storms Strike Pennsylvania, Leaving Two Dead and Widespread Damage
Severe storms that swept through Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening claimed at least two lives, felled trees, and left hundreds of thousands without power.
A 22-year-old man in State College tragically lost his life after being electrocuted while attempting to extinguish a mulch fire near a utility pole. Police confirmed that the man came into contact with an active electric current and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This devastating incident occurred as severe weather hit the State College area, causing significant damage to trees and power lines,” police said in a statement. Authorities have not yet released the man’s identity, pending notification of his family.
In Ross Township, 67-year-old Raymond Gordon also died after being struck by a tree. Police reported that Gordon had been working outside and was returning to his home when the tree fell on him.
Wind gusts during the storm reached speeds of 80 to 90 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Social media posts shared images of uprooted trees and downed power lines across the region.
A team from the National Weather Service has been dispatched to Wilkinsburg in Allegheny County to assess “potential tornado damage,” the agency posted on X.
By early Wednesday afternoon, nearly 430,000 people in central and western Pennsylvania were still without power, as reported by poweroutage.us. Allegheny County was hit the hardest, with almost 231,000 customers affected.
Duquesne Light Company described the storm damage as “unprecedented” and stated that a full assessment might not be available until Thursday morning. John Hilderbrand II, Vice President of Operations at Duquesne Light, said at a Wednesday press conference that power restoration could take five to seven days.
“We understand how challenging and frustrating it can be to be without power, especially for an extended period,” the company stated in a post on X. “This is an ‘all hands on deck’ effort, and we are committed to working tirelessly around the clock until everyone’s power is restored.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey acknowledged that it will take time for power to be fully restored and for roads to be cleared.
“We’re simply asking the people of our city to bear with us a little longer,” he said during a news conference on Wednesday. “We know this is an inconvenience, and we recognize that, but we also recognize that safety must come first.”
Pittsburgh Public Schools were closed on Wednesday due to the widespread power outages. In Allegheny County, the Borough of Forest Hills declared a state of emergency after the storm caused fallen trees, downed power lines, and hazardous debris.
Severe weather also impacted Missouri on Tuesday. The City of Springfield, Missouri, reported no fatalities or injuries in Springfield or Greene County.
“We are still in the process of assessing the damage, which mainly consists of trees and debris blocking roadways,” Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield, said in a statement on Wednesday.
