Authorities have confirmed two people have died from electrocution as a powerful storm batters Pennsylvania.
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According to police reports, three people died in storm-related incidents on Tuesday, 29, with two attributed to electrocution. Per a press release by the State College Police Department, Emergency Services 'responded to an individual who had been electrocuted near a utility pole in the 1500 block of University Drive.' The incident occurred in the evening, at around 7:17 PM. A 22-year-old man 'encountered an active electric current' as he tried to extinguish a mulch fire. The press release also explains that the severe weather caused damage to many trees and utilities. Police are warning residents to stay away from any downed lines and report them to authorities.
A report by Accuweather mentions the victim on University Drive and another in Pittsburgh, over 100 miles away. A man died after coming in contact with live wires on St. Martin Street on the same evening. Emergency Services pronounced him dead at the scene. The outlet also mentions another storm-related death, although authorities have not provided further details.
Experts Are Calling The Storm Where Two Were Electrocuted A 'Derecho.'
Accuweather cites expert meteorologists who classify the storm as a derecho. Per the National Weather Service, a derecho is a rare type of severe thunderstorm. Derecho's are 'widespread, long-lived wind storms' associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. They can reportedly have the same destructive strength as a tornado, although the damage is typically in a single direction. The damage is sometimes called "straight-line wind damage."
Allegheny County posted a weather service update on Tuesday. They confirmed the two storm-related deaths and explained that the region saw over 5000 911 calls per hour at the height of the storm. Emergency services admitted that the volume of calls overwhelmed 911 operators and regional phone carrier systems.
The update asks residents, "Please stay off area roads as many downed wires, trees and poles still exist." It also advises road users on what to do if they reach traffic lights without power. "No powered traffic lights means all traffic stops, all at the intersection must take your turn safely. Just like a four-way stop sign intersection."
