Destructive wind storm hits tri-county area

Marlinton, W.Va. – A powerful wind storm swept across the Mid-Atlantic region Friday night, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in several states. A storm front with wind speeds as high as 80 miles per hour was driven by a line of thunderstorms, sweeping across the state at 60-70 mph. The storm hit West Virginia particularly hard.

The storm, known as a derecho, knocked out power to most households in the tri-county area. Power was restored to most of Highland and Bath counties and most of northern Pocahontas County by Thursday. Telephone service remained out in some areas of Pocahontas County on Thursday.

With temperatues reaching into the 90s, emergency and law enforcement personnel organized to assist those without power and water. Several water and food distribution points were established in the tri-county area by Monday.

West Virginia was declared a federal emergency area on Tuesday, making federal assets available for relief efforts.

Power company representatives estimated power would be restored to all customers in Pocahontas County by Sunday.