Crews working nonstop to restore power after deadly derecho in Pennsylvania

AccuWeather

Ezra Nanes, mayor of State College, Pennsylvania, joined AccuWeather to discuss how the town is responding to a derecho that claimed a young man's life and left thousands without electricity.

Transcript

00:00Here at AccuWeather, last night's severe weather truly hit home.

00:04The deadly storm claimed a life right here in State College, Pennsylvania.

00:07And joining us now is Ezra Naines, Mayor of State College and Director of Strategic Account Management here at AccuWeather.

00:14Ezra, can you tell us the latest? What are you telling you?

00:18Thanks, Anna. Thanks, Damian.

00:20Yeah, honestly, like I said earlier, with Bernie and Ariella, this is an unprecedented situation.

00:27In all my years at AccuWeather, I don't remember us getting hit so hard at home.

00:31I would love to say that as the day's gone on, things have started to improve,

00:35but I think we're still finding out the extent of how bad the damage really is.

00:39We don't have estimates on restoration of power at this time.

00:45It is expected to be a multi-day restoration.

00:51Reception is very choppy, I think, because there's just so much demand for information,

00:56which, of course, at a time like this is so important.

00:59So I think we're going to be in, we've got to dig in a little bit here,

01:03and people are going to need to sort of think this could be a day or two,

01:07or who knows, in some cases, three days.

01:09So we're going to have to prepare for that.

01:13So many trees, they were down last night in the storm.

01:16What are the biggest challenges for, you were talking about not just today,

01:19but for tomorrow, maybe even the next several days.

01:21So what are those biggest challenges going to be during that time period?

01:24Right. I think right now the biggest challenge we're facing is getting the power back on.

01:29Our public works teams here in the borough are working around the clock to clear trees,

01:34but some of the streets that are closed, and as I understand it,

01:38all nine of the streets that we had to close are still closed because there are power lines down,

01:44and that really is the biggest danger.

01:47Now, I will say the one thing that's been working for us today is it's an absolutely beautiful day,

01:52and there are no extremes of temperature.

01:55The winds seem to be fairly calm.

01:56We're not having any heavy rain, so crews can continue to do the work,

02:01and there aren't additional crises necessarily unfolding because of the weather at this time,

02:05but those crews have to keep prioritizing their work and figuring out where all the lines are down,

02:11and it's just going to take a little while.

02:13And getting information is difficult, as I said.

02:15So the best thing we can do, let's not open those refrigerators.

02:19If you can put your food on ice or find a neighbor who may have power.

02:23I mean, the crazy thing about this storm is that, you know, one house, completely fine, power,

02:29everything's fine there across the street, tree down, no power.

02:33Those winds just hit really hard, and they cause some very extreme damage in some spots.

02:38So look in on your neighbors who may be a little bit older, who may be unable to care for themselves very well.

02:45There may be medical devices.

02:46So if you're having trouble, try to reach out to neighbors, get that help that you may need,

02:51and stay away from downed power lines.

02:54Don't go anywhere near them.

02:55Don't try to clear them.

02:56Don't move trees.

02:57That is really dangerous.

02:59You've got to stay at least 30 feet away from those hazards right now.

03:02And that really kind of brings us into the next thing I want to talk about, Ezra.

03:06Unfortunately, there was an electrocution death last night.

03:09So how are your teams and the utilities staying safe while they make these needed repairs?

03:15Absolutely.

03:16It is such a tragedy.

03:17A young man really just trying to be helpful, and we, you know, you honor him for that effort,

03:23but sadly went out to put out a small fire that had started as a result of a power line going down

03:29and got too close to that line and was electrocuted.

03:31And we all mourn him and wish only the most sympathy to his family and friends.

03:37And the best thing we can do is just leave the work to the professionals.

03:41They are trained extensively on how to deal with this.

03:44And honestly, if you see public works, if you see line workers, if you see your first responders

03:49working on a situation, give them space.

03:53Don't get up next to them because it could be a dangerous situation, unless, of course, you need help.

03:58But when the work is done, when the power is back on, when everything's safe,

04:02make sure that you take the time to thank all of those workers because they are putting their lives on the line

04:07so that we can get power back so that we can stay safe.

04:10If you do see a power line that's down, call 911.

04:14That's the best thing you can do.

04:16And make sure you don't go near it.

04:17Make sure your friends, neighbors, children, pets, just try to keep everything away from that

04:22because those wires are hot and they can cause damage.

04:25So that's really the best I can say.

04:28Public works teams are clearing trees.

04:30They are trying to get streetlights back on.

04:33So also, if you're out driving, and I know we have to get to and from work.

04:38We have children at daycare.

04:39We need food.

04:41Everybody's trying to figure out how to do the essentials of life when things are really partly shut down in this way.

04:47Drive very safely.

04:48Some of those streetlights are not working.

04:52So go very slowly as you go up to them and really look in all directions so you don't accidentally have a collision out there

05:00because that's the last thing you want at a time like this.

05:03Some important reminders there.

05:05As Renane's Mayor of State College and Director of Strategic Account Management here at AccuBother,

05:09thank you for all of those details.

05:12Of course.

05:12It's my pleasure.

05:13And thanks to you for getting the word out about the damage of this storm.

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