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Thousands Still Without Power In Western Pa.; South Side Lights Out

Some Pittsburgh-Area Schools Cancel Classes Again

POSTED: 5:07 am EDT September 15, 2008
UPDATED: 11:29 am EDT September 16, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- Thousands of people still have no electricity in their homes and businesses, two days after the Pittsburgh region was battered by Hurricane Ike wind gusts ranging from 60 mph to more than 70 mph.

Late Sunday night, more than 180,000 power outages were reported throughout western Pennsylvania. On Tuesday morning, power companies were still working to restore service to all customers, and a handful of school districts were forced to cancel classes.
School delays and cancellations: See the latest list here

The traffic lights were not working at the intersection of South 10th Street and East Carson Street on Pittsburgh's South Side early Tuesday. Power in the neighborhood was out from 10th Street to Fourth Street.
See The Video From South Side

Traffic lights were also out on Route 50 in Collier Township, between Collier Town Square and Vanadium Road.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the following outages have been reported:
Duquesne Light -- 25,000 customers (down from 105,000 during the night) -- The hardest hit areas include: Brighton, Hopewell and New Brighton in Beaver County, and Bellevue, Beltzhoover, Brushton, Hampton, Penn Hills and Richland Township in Allegheny County.
Penn Power -- 55,600 (mostly in Cranberry, New Castle and Mercer County)
Allegheny Power -- 28,000 (down from about 99,000)

BEAVER COUNTY

Water will be made available from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Economy Municipal Building, the Rochester Township and the Raccoon Township fire departments. The Industry Fire Department will also make water available from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Click For Full Story - County Residents Experiencing Water Shortages

Strong winds ripped a tree from its roots and caused it to fall into a home in the 300 block of Crestmont Street in Darlington Township. Portions of the roof caved in and the house buckled, WTAE Channel 4's Amber Nicotra reported.

EMS officials in Beaver County reported severe damage in parts of Brighton, Center, Hopewell and Monaca, with wind gusts reaching 79 mph at one point.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Saltsburg Road (Route 380) in Plum was closed between Center and New Texas roads because of downed power lines. It reopened shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society on Pittsburgh's North Side has no power. Staff members are using flashlights and wearing miner-style helmets while they care for the animals.

Elsewhere on the North Side, two men were using chainsaws to cut apart a downed tree on Perrysville Avenue.

Traffic lights and overhead lights are working again at most major intersections. Many lights were out or blinking during the Monday morning rush.
(Check Current Traffic Conditions)

The Port Authority trolley line in Pittsburgh, between South Hills Junction and Neeld Avenue, was shut down late Sunday night after a tree fell on a wire in Beechview, an authority spokesman told Channel 4 Action News.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY

In Hempfield, the township's fall festival site took a major hit from the storm. The main stage was blown over and trees were down.
Click for full story

Not far away, the city of Arnold reported major damage as well. Power outages were widespread there.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

A tree fell on a power line near Washington Park Primary School in the city of Washington. Classes at the school were canceled Monday.

There was also a tree down in Washington Park.

LAWRENCE COUNTY

The following roads are closed because of downed power lines:

Route 2012 (Union Valley Road) from the intersection of Center Avenue and Industrial Street in Taylor Township to the intersection of Shenango Stop and Old Pittsburgh roads in Shenango Township.

Route 956 from the intersection of Eastbrook Road in Wilmington Township to the intersection of Market Street and Neshannock Avenue in New Wilmington.

VENANGO COUNTY

One death is blamed on the storm. According to Venango County Coroner John Greggs, a falling branch struck and killed a person on Paul Revere Road in Corn Planter Township on Sunday night.

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