At least 2 million people from Indiana to New Jersey are without power after violent storms hit the region around Washington DC. The power outages left many without air conditioning after a day of triple-digit temperatures across the region and record-breaking 104 degrees registered in the capital.
So far, two fatalities were reported in the Springfield area of Fairfax County. A falling tree killed a male driver at Old Keene Mill Road and Bauer Drive, while according to AP, on another location a 90-year-old woman, who was sleeping, was killed after a tree fell on her home.
The Governor of West Virginia, Ray Tomblin, declared a statewide emergency after the storm left some 500,000 people without electricity in at least 27 counties.
"The damage from today's storms is widespread and in many places severe. With temperatures near 100 degrees expected this weekend, it's critical that we get people's power back on as soon as possible. We're committing 100% of our state's resources for as long as we need to get this cleaned up", Gov. Tomblin said in a statement.
The National Weather Service warned severe thunderstorms will continue to be a threat across the District of Columbia, eastern Kentucky, western Maryland, south-western Pennsylvania, much of Virginia and parts of West Virginia.
Sources:
