Storm pounds district
Several thousand people were without power Sunday after a severe storm worked its way through the area. Allen Staggers, a spokesman for Allegheny Power, said approximately 7,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania were without power as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
More than a quarter of those affected by the power outage live in Fayette County, according to Staggers. He said about 2,500 residences in and around Masontown and Farmington were without electricity following the storm.
Staggers said emergency crews were expected to have the power restored late Sunday.
Emergency officials said the late afternoon storm, which arrived in Fayette County around 4 p.m., downed power lines and uprooted several trees.
Thirty-seven incidents involving downed wires and trees were reported within an hour and a half time span, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., according to information from Fayette County 911.
A 911 spokesman said a couple incidents involving fallen trees onto residences were also reported. In addition, he said a tree reportedly fell on a Masontown Borough police car.
A fireman from Masontown confirmed the incident and said the patrol car was not badly damaged, although he said the storm did wreck havoc in the borough, noting the fire department received about 12 calls in regards to storm-related damage.
In Perry Township, fire department Chief Barry Lynch said minimal damage was reported throughout the township.
“Nothing major, just a lot of trees and wires down,” he said.
Lynch said a tree did fall on a mobile home in Whitsett, but he said no one was hurt and no substantial damage occurred.
Chief Brian VanSickle of Farmington Volunteer Fire Department reported no major damage in Farmington and the surrounding area.
The National Weather Service is predicting stormy weather through Wednesday.