PITTSBURGH – At least three people were killed in Pennsylvania after a serial derecho tore across the region Tuesday, with officials in Pittsburgh calling the event “unprecedented” as damage assessments and power restoration efforts get underway.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, along with other city officials, held a news conference Wednesday morning to provide an update after the powerful thunderstorms roared through the city, snapping trees and power lines like twigs.

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“This was quite a storm that we had last night,” Gainey said. “It was tough on our city.”

Gainey began his press conference by acknowledging a storm-related death in the city, as well as mentioning first responders who were injured during the event.

“Last night, we know an individual lost their life. I want to say, from my administration to his family, we’re praying for you. I know this is a difficult time, and I just want to extend condolences to the family, and I also want to make sure we’re praying for the family and friends.”

According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, units were sent to the 1000 block of St. Martin Street on Tuesday to respond to reports of a man who was electrocuted by live wires. That man, who hasn’t been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Amid the chaos, a multi-alarm fire broke out in a building in Pittsburgh, requiring a significant number of first responders to be at the scene. Two firefighters became trapped in the building but were safely rescued.

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“I also want to honor the dedication of bravery of our first responders, including those last night in the fire department who were injured in the line of duty,” he said. “One was treated at the scene and released. The other was transported and is in stable condition.”

Another storm-related death was reported in Allegheny County, although details of that death have not yet been released. In addition, police in State College said a 22-year-old man was also electrocuted by downed wires while he was attempting to extinguish a mulch fire and came into contact with an electric current.

Hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left without power in Pittsburgh, and crews are continuing their efforts to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

“I ask our residents to remain calm, be kind to one another as we get through this together,” Gainey said. “Our city has always come together in times like these. We are a resilient city, and I’m just asking for some patience as we clear the roadways.”

It will take some time, however, for crews to clear roads of trees, power lines and other debris, and full power restoration could take up to a week to complete, according to officials.

John Hilderbrand II, the Vice President of Operations for Duquesne Light Company, called the event “unprecedented.”

“As you can all imagine, we’re still assessing the full damage from the storm last evening,” he said. “But it is already clear that this is an unprecedented event in the history of Duquesne Light Company.”

He said the company received more than 22,000 reports of hazards, some of which were trees and wires down.

Wind gusts topped hurricane-force and tropical-storm force in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, including a 79-mph gust in Latrobe, a 71-mph gust at Pittsburgh International Airport and a 62-mph gust in State College.

Severe weather also rocked parts of Missouri earlier on Tuesday, with thunderstorms producing 91-mph wind gusts in Springfield. In addition, schools in Ozark, Missouri, were told to shelter in place during a Tornado Warning.

There were numerous reports of trees and power lines down in Freistatt, Monett and Aurora in Missouri.

Another community impacted by the storms was Purdy, Missouri, home to Camp Barnabas, a beloved organization that provides camping experiences for people with chronic illnesses and special needs. 

The camp was severely damaged during the storms. Many trees were knocked down on the property, damaging buildings and equipment. Campers are set to arrive in about a month. Volunteers and donations are needed to help them reopen in time to welcome the campers for the summer. 

“We are so thankful for God’s protection today—and we’re trusting Him to provide through the hands and hearts of our community,” Camp Barnabas wrote on Facebook. 

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Farther south, radar estimates showed thunderstorms produced 3-6 inches of rain across parts of Oklahoma.

The heavy rainfall caused troopers to shut down northbound Interstate 35 at Interstate 44 in the Oklahoma City metro due to significant flooding.

Motorists were reminded not to drive into standing water and to use caution during the torrential downpours.

Severe storms likely produced a serial derecho on Tuesday

Analysis from the FOX Forecast Center indicates that Tuesday’s severe weather event was likely a serial derecho.

For meteorologists to classify a windstorm as a derecho – from the Spanish word for “straight” – the swath of straight-line wind damage it causes must cover a distance of at least 400 miles and include wind gusts over 58 mph along most of its path, as well as several, well-separated 75-mph or higher gusts, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.

WHAT IS A DERECHO?

Damaging wind reports from Tuesday’s severe storms covered nearly 700 miles, spanning from central Indiana to upstate New York.