10 pm UPDATE: Weather Service On Scene
About half of the 4,000-plus Potter County households that were
without power 24 hours after Thursday afternoon's severe storm now
have electricity. Portions of Coudersport, Roulette, Galeton and
Genesee were brought back on line Friday evening. West Penn Power is
still working in the Coudersport and Roulette areas. On Saturday, they
will focus on re-establishing localized/neighborhood service.
Meanwhile, Penelec is continuing to restore service in areas of
Galeton that are still out and Tri-County REC continues working to
restore its larger grid areas. Many — but not all — of the 2,000
households lacking electrical service as of late Friday should be back
on line by Saturday night. Anyone who would like to report a power
outage or obtain more information in the West Penn Power or Penelec
service areas should call 1-888-544-4877.
National Weather Service representatives joined the Potter County
Emergency Management Agency in touring the affected areas this
afternoon to gather data on the nature of the storm. Official findings
are pending, but initial reports suggest wind speeds of upwards of 90
miles per hour and a mixture of straight-line winds, microbursts and
classification EF-1 tornado activity. Official designations will be
announced at a later date.
Potter County officials are asking residents in the affected areas to
check on their neighbors and see if they can render assistance to
those with special needs, as refrigeration, water-pumping and
communications services remain unavailable. Coudersport Volunteer Fire
Department reminds those in need that its modular units along Rt. 6
west in Coudersport are open as comfort stations.
Officials released the identity of the woman who died as a result of
injuries sustained when a tree fell on her at a private campsite on
Wintergreen Road in the Hickox/Genesee area. Linda Lou Button, 66, of
Andover, N.Y., was pronounced dead at the scene of severe head trauma.
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