US

Violent Storms Leave Millions Without Power During Massive Heat Wave

Violent Storms Leave Millions Without Power, Deaths Reported

Construction workers enduring the heat in Chicago (Photo: AP)

(The Blaze/AP) Violent evening storms following a day of triple-digit temperatures wiped out power to more than 2 million people across the eastern United States and have caused at least nine casualties – including a 90-year-old woman asleep in bed when a tree slammed into her home, a police spokeswoman said Saturday.

Widespread power outages were reported from Indiana to New Jersey, with the bulk of the service interruptions concentrated on Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas. Earlier Friday, the nation’s capital reached 104 degrees – topping a record of 101 set in 1934.

More than 20 elderly residents at an apartment home in Indianapolis were displaced when the facility lost power due to a downed tree. Most were bused to a Red Cross facility to spend the night, and others who depend on oxygen assistance were given other accommodations, the fire department said.

The storms, sometimes packing 70 mph winds, toppled three tractor trailers on Interstate 75 near Findlay, Ohio.

Fallen trees were blamed on both deaths in Springfield, Va.

Besides the 90-year-old woman, who authorities didn’t identify pending notification of kin, a man driving his car was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities identified him as Khiet Nguyen, 27, of Burke, Va.

In addition, a park police officer was injured by an uprooted tree in the northern Virginia county, and an 18-year-old man was struck by a power line, Jennings said. He was in stable condition after receiving CPR, she said.

“Our officers and firefighters are out there with power saws, trying to clear the streets,” Jennings said.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency after more than 500,000 customers in 27 counties were left without electricity.

At least four utility poles fell on a road in Columbus, Ohio, making it too dangerous for people in four cars to get out, police said. One person was taken to a hospital.

CNN has video of heat waves rocking the rest of the country:

As of 1 a.m. Saturday, Pepco was reporting 406,000 outages in the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Md.

“We have more than half our system down,” said Pepco spokeswoman Myra Oppel. “This is definitely going to be a multi-day outage.”

Amtrak suspended its service from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia due to the storms, at least until mid-morning.

In the Washington, D.C., area, the Metrorail subway trains were returned to their endpoints due to the storms and related damage, officials said.

“It has had a widespread effect on the region,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said early Saturday. He said about 17 train stations were operating on backup power due to local power outages, but that he didn’t anticipate service being disrupted on Saturday.

This story has been updated.

Comments (68)

1 2
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:26pm

    nice . thanks

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • MizuNo
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:48am

      Portugal is nice this time of year. Thankfully I left langley a couple years ago. Otherwise I would be stuck in that heat wave to. Thoughts for those who are suffering.

      Report Post »  
  • smokeyridgerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:46pm

    This is just the start of your woes if you vote for the Anti Christ Obama. He hate Christians and God does not like that. Keep him in power and you will get more and more.

    Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:24pm

      How disgusting.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • CommunismSurvivor
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:42am

      Right… Because natural disasters never happened before Obama, or when Christians were in charge. Ever heard of the Black Plague? Morons like you are as much a part of the problem as loony ********.

      Report Post » CommunismSurvivor  
  • scrudge
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:26pm

    HE HE HE watching politicians melt… its nice in my aircondition quaters….

    Report Post »  
  • Tretka
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:19pm

    Heads up East Coast, be prepared…extra supplies and water and a generator will not be the butt of jokes when your in a situation like this. I can’t tell you how many east coasters I have met where I live (Arizona) and they joke about what I do.

    Prayers (and probably donations) going your way east coast. Don‘t agree with much of your leadership’s thinking but I still care that the people make it through. God Speed!

    Report Post » Tretka  
  • wakewiseone
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:58pm

    maybe obama is feeling some heat after this storm shut down the power systems in DC.

    but think this is bad??? wait until he feels the heat in early november 2012 !!!

    Report Post »  
    • scrudge
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:20pm

      burn DC BURN….. amen

      Report Post »  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:58am

      Obama is in Switerland giving Clooney head. And, no, he’s NOT going the loose the election. I don’t want him to win but he will. If he feels that he can’t win the election he will have the DOJ call the judge presiding over the Zimmerman trial and have all charges dropped. America will explode with fires in every major city. Obama will declare martial law, cancel the election and make himself dictator. Simple. Even a factory worker can see that.

      Report Post » RamonPreston  
  • Bruce P.
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:01pm

    It is funny, for all the claims that atheists are immoral — it is the Christians that are celebrating this destruction.

    Report Post » Bruce P.  
  • birdlady
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:27pm

    I am in VA and our power has been out since last night. Yes, we are prepared. We have 2 generators running with a third for back up. Have to switch them every once in awhile, they can get too hot. We have well water but pump is being run by generator so we are able to water all animals. Our food supply. We have a pool to cool off in. We have window units running. We have plenty of food, we have cows to milk and meat in the freezer. Bring it on.

    Report Post »  
  • Former Patriot
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:23pm

    I‘m not a bible type guy so I won’t claim God’s wrath. I feel bad for everyone outside the DC area, gonna take a drive this weekend and help with the clean up. For those inside the beltway,- welcome to what the rest of America goes through on an almost daily basis. I’m sure all federal assets available will be diverted for a rapid recovery there-we wouldn’t want the federal governments theft from us to interrupted. A shame the states that don’t worship obama have little help coming for the ongoing disasters.

    Report Post »  
    • whywonder
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:26pm

      Good thing global warming isn’t happening.

      Report Post »  
    • shustring
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:47pm

      why dont you explain the cause of the last ice age for us…I mean…please tell me emissions, pollution and man had something to do with it so I can fall over laughing.

      Report Post »  
    • whywonder
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:53pm

      I did not say it was man made just that its happening

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:25pm

      I certainly believe in Global Warming and believe there is an anthropological hand in it…not the sole or biggest factor, but a hand. And yes, it has been hijacked by the Left for political purposes that have little to do with protecting the environment. The podcast Skeptoid had an excellent episode on how our opinions about global warming are more based on politics rather than science. It is, as the host says, “the poster child for failed science communication” because it was presented to the public not as a scientific issue, but a political one. The episodes tries to drill down past the political biases to find the best available information. It is well worth the listen…http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4309. Try it with an open-mind, liberated from political nonsense.

      Now, there are some here who will immediately dismiss my above statement, without even reading or listening to the aforementioned podcast, claiming there is no scientific evidence (untrue), that it is a hoax (untrue), disproven (untrue) or that scientist-X claims it isn’t happening, therefore it isn’t (while the first part may be true, it doesn’t follow that the second part is as well. Despite claims by conservative pundits that science is not based on consensus, it actually is…a consensus that is built on the best available evidence, peer review, etc. And right now, the consensus on the best available evidence rejects these minority views).

      (continued)

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:29pm

      (continued…)

      This is not to say, however, that “the science is settled,” as Al Gore claims (he makes these claims on a political, not scientific basis). Science is NEVER settled. As the podcast says, “No responsible scientist has ever claimed that our current theories are absolutely correct and no further study is needed. The more work is done, the better our theories explain the observations. The tighter our predictions get. If you put any trust at all in the scientific method or in any branch of science, you know that our latest and best theories are just that. They’re never final, they’re never complete.”

      Further study is always needed and studies should absolutely be done to investigate man’s role in climate change, INCLUDING the possibility the actions of man have no role.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • whywonder
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:10pm

      Bruce P
      Thanks for your post…at least folks are beginning to acknowledge that its truly happening. Its a start and I agree with you its been made a political football.

      Report Post »  
    • theblazerunner
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:06pm

      study ice cores and mountain sides…

      the earth has been having ice ages and heatwaves ever since it was formed , created …whatever.

      every 10 to 12 ,000 years the earth ‘s climate changes.

      well, naturally that is …
      with the help of haarp, chemtrails , 250million mega tons of aluminum + other chem particles…we are playing withh the weather.

      Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • karen162
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:29am

      The states that don’t vote Obama are the states that can help themselves. They don’t need, “Obama money” (OUR money) to fix their problems. They can fix their problems on their own. Obama voters don’t know how to take care of themselves and helping others is a concept they know nothing about nor want to learn. Being prepared is Tom Foolery to them.

      Report Post » karen162  
  • christos
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:21pm

    No worries they can just print more $$$$$$,,,,,,did not china just buy Ohio,read it at yolohub.com,,,thought they claimed & bragged they can control the weather,,,filth

    Report Post » christos  
    • christos
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:37pm

      They can pray to their golden calf,,their $$$$$$ god,,,take your New World Order TO HELL WITH YOU.

      Report Post » christos  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:20pm

    Hey Obama, Roberts, you effin’ traitors!!!!! See what God does when you try and destroy His country? I don’t think He likes you. I’m sure He knows that you are both atheists, you can’t hide it from Him. LOL

    Report Post » BeingThere  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:58pm

      What a wonderful god you worship, that would punish the innocent for the crimes, real or imagined, of others.

      And what a perverted faith you have that applaud destruction.

      And what a complete lack of logic you possess, to think that a court ruling that has nothing to do with religion equates to “atheism!”

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • BeingThere
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:48pm

      Bite me Brucie, it’s just a little sarcasm!!!

      Report Post » BeingThere  
    • christos
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:55pm

      To BRUCE P. — You are right on 1 count believers are supposed to tone it down when +JESUS+GOD+ take vengeance maybe this would be an opportunity for you to reconsider how Awesome +JESUS+GOD+ is +HE+ & +HE+ alone controls the weather,,,man approved the managed “Death Care Bill” not the “Kingdom of +JESUS+GOD+ so we are not perfect sometimes & we brag about +JESUS+GOD+ in ways non believers can’t understand,,,Liberals are shaking their fist at +JESUS+GOD+ +HE+ is just returning the favor,,,to show the liberal herd who is in Charge???’s ask +JESUS+GOD+ +HE+ is the only way for Salvation.

      Report Post » christos  
    • CommunismSurvivor
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:53am

      People like you are as much a part of the problem as the loony moonbats. Natural disasters have happened throughout history no matter who was in charge. In fact, your church was running everything when the Black Plague struck. DUH.

      Report Post » CommunismSurvivor  
    • Cavy2see
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:55pm

      I know that sarcasm is a good thing…but in print it looses it’s ooomph…we are all so upset on the HHS thing…and we don’t know what to say….please just pray for our nation…everything has been upside down so much and so long…we need to breath…pause…for those who think this is just about religion think somemore…this is more than religion…to me and my thinking. God does his things for us and some of us choose not to think about His love for us…telling us to do what will not harm us more…religions can be wrong too…but praying to Him…to keep all of us in his hands…love and peace…for all American’s who need our beloved nation to be free…freedom is to keep working at it…freedom is like the air we breath…you cannot see it but it is there…God gave them to us…freedom and air don’t throw them away…the blood sweat and tears of it all…the cross and the constitution…thank you for posting so I could put my love of nation and God on here….

      Report Post » Cavy2see  
    • CobraBill
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:47am

      OMG that poor mustang.

      Report Post »  
  • LB
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:59pm

    Just saw the Steve Carell movie “Seeking a friend for the end of the world” Makes you think about life and are you living it.

    Report Post » LB  
    • Cavy2see
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:08pm

      That is why we need churches to help us to think more about others and the consequences that happen with the wrong choices and/or paths we take in life…sometimes in the past church was lead by evil people…on our toes everyone…we have to make that point…I hope I am making a clear statement here…global warming happens all the time…thank God…if we got ice age we would been in a worse way for it…no sun…cold all the time…did any of you ever live through a cold week in New England…read more on the subject…heat can be tough also…I just pray we don’t have either one…just thinking…but man doesn’t do it to the earth alone…that is my point…I have lived through new england summers no airconditioning…103 or 104 in the shade…so what caused that in 1967 or ‘68 both summers were very hot…we only had fans in New Haven Free Public Library…back in the dim days…and back further…cold summers are the pits too…raining…each day….awful…just remember don’t worry so much…too bad these folks are suffering so much…praying for the families who lost loved ones this past week….

      Report Post » Cavy2see  
  • COFemale
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Me thinks that God is really pissed.

    Although, I have sympathy for the people in the East in high heat, no air, high humidity, at least they still have their homes. I am also saddened to hear 10 people lost their lives during the storm. That is tragic, no doubt and do not want to diminish the loss of those lives. Those without power will get it back and go on with their lives as if nothing happened.

    In Colorado, a massive thunderstorm wisked 65mph winds down a mountain carrying embers and fire from the wildfire creating a massive fire storm in epic portions and wiped out 347 homes, 2 died during that fire storm and 8 or so are still unaccounted for. Watch this time lapse of the fire, it is mind boggling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBA7eHY022k

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:55pm

      Don’t call it “tragic” when you are applauding God for causing the destruction.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
  • OKC08GT500
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:27pm

    This is why we preppers have generators and portable air conditioners.

    Report Post » OKC08GT500  
    • Restored One
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:29pm

      This is another example of why you should be prepared. Everyone thinks that we who prepare are crazy and conspiracy theorists. Don’t doubt the power of mother nature.

      Report Post »  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:16pm

    It‘s George Bush’s fault.
    I can’t help but think that Obama is delighted. This leads to ‘stimulus’ spending, by his definition. Money gets spent to repair storm & fire damage, but in the end we are materially no better off than we were before, and now we owe for the money spent. That is *exactly* what his stimulus plan was. I suppose we ought to be grateful that *he* didn’t think of setting Colorado on fire, at least not until now. The fact that he is out there ‘observing’ gives me the creeps.

    Report Post »  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:01pm

    how active was HAARP earlier this week?

    Report Post »  
  • circleDwagons
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:40pm

    No power at work. Apparently the recepitist can not think without power. There are two types of people, Doers or Takers. Come LORD Come

    Report Post » circleDwagons  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:10pm

    WHAT????

    solar cells and windmills dont work in storms ?????

    this will become common………….WITHOUT the storms thanks to shutting down electric stations

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:32pm

      Wild fires out of control, floods, no electricity, kind of sounds like someone is trying to tell us something don’t you think ? You Bible thumpers know what I am talking about.

      Report Post »  
  • Snaker
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:51am

    Sorry about the storms, the damage, the injured, and the casualties, but
    WHERE IS THE “MESSIAH” WAVING HIS ARMS, CALMING THE SEAS,
    THE SICK, THE INFIRMED, AND RESTORING “THE LOST”?????

    Report Post »  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:20pm

      Waiting for people like you to believe HE is! If you knew the scriptures at all you would know that these sorts of things happen to wake people up and turn to him! We have to be prepared for what comes and have faith. Are you prepared.. spiritually and temporally. If you aren‘t then you can’t blame our Messiah, you only have yourself to blame! I suggest you sit down and read the Bible.Read about the 7 years of famine and the drought that caused it! I wish you well!

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:25pm

      I think SNAKER means Obama, lol.

      Report Post » hatchetjob  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:22am

    Operation Blessing is likely already in effect. And how can we help?

    That should be our question, folks! If we can’t go, we can give to those who can!

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • BuckeyeLibertarian
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:01pm

      Seriously? The day after our Supreme Court makes that abominable ruling DC gets pounded the worst part of a really bad storm. You just can’t make this stuff up.

      If you scripted it the audience would be groaning and rolling their eyes.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:26pm

      You know what you call a Washington D.C. blizzard????

      HELL freezing over.

      ;-)

      Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:49pm

      love it catb

      Report Post »  
  • lel2007
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:22am

    If ya want snow in July call in Algore to give a global warming speech.

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:06am

    Just wait until the EPA’s coal regulation bears fruit and causes regular power shortages during heat waves. This will be a regular occurrence.

    Report Post »  
    • lel2007
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:38am

      Oh nonsense. We’ll have plenty of solar and wind generated power by then. So get on out there and by your battery powered vehicle – be sure it come with an air conditioner.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • mwhaley
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:57am

      Dougral and LEL2007 you both are crazy right wing idiots. It is the magic electric fairy that sprinkles electric pixie dust for all those that believe.

      Report Post »  
  • Unix
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:58am

    I can tell you this, at my house a lump was in my throat! Winds in excess of 90 mph for the second time in 10 days is a tough one…trees are down everywhere, and now again. I said a prayer (actually several) to God asking for protection, and he answered them for me, praise Him. Amen. For those who have been injured or who have died, my prayers go out to you. For those who have no power in this oppressive heat, also a little prayer to get your power back soon. This is uncharted waters, it has felt like two hurricanes coming through in 10 days, man it was scary.

    Report Post » Unix  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:22pm

      Glad you’re okay UNIX, and hopefully the end of the storms your way.

      Report Post » hatchetjob  
  • SuperSuineg
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:44am

    i hope they are beck-ites, so they will have food and water stored up… a few days with out “power’ is no biggy if you have food and water and a ginny.

    Report Post » SuperSuineg  
  • Amos37
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:23am

    God is love. lol. tell these people that. No, God is very angry with America right now and uses the weather to demonstrate it. What does He have to do to get people to repent?

    Report Post »  
    • chazmo
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:13am

      Total Collapse nothing more…

      Report Post » chazmo  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:24am

      God IS love–don’t mock that fact! It’s Biblical! 1 John 4:7-8

      Many times He chooses to DEMONSTRATE that love THRU us.

      This is an opportunity!

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • Want our country back
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:56am

    Heartbreaking stories…. prayers to all….

    Report Post » Want our country back  
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