Posted on 06/30/2012 8:01:42 AM PDT by Kartographer
A fast-moving line of dangerous storms knocked out power to more than 1.5 million customers in the D.C. area Friday night.
A day of record-shattering heat ended with severe thunderstorms that rushed through the metro area with strong winds and an impressive lightning display.
The storms produced hurricane-force winds in excess of 80 mph. Gusts of 82 mph were reported in the Reston area.
On Saturday morning, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management confirmed that four people had died due to the storm in the Commonwealth.
The National Weather Service reported a tree fell on a car in the area of Old Keene Mill Road and Bauer Drive in Springfield, Va. shortly before 11 p.m., killing 27-year-old Khiet Nguyen of Burke.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcwashington.com ...
Preppers’ PING!
D.C.’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency advised people take the following precautions:
Stay indoors as much as possible.
Turn on the air conditioner or fan.
DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.
Pay special attention to young children, the elderly and the mentally ill.
Drink plenty of water.
Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside (SPF 15-30 is best).
Limit exposure to the sun (the sun is most powerful between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.).
Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
If you do not have access to a cool-temperature location, visit one of the District’s cooled indoor facilities referred to above.
Symptoms of heat stroke:
Hot, dry skin (no sweating)
Hallucinations
Chills
Throbbing headache
High body temperature
Confusion/dizziness
Slurred speech
Groups at greatest risk for heat-related illness:
Infants
Children up to four years of age
People 65 years of age and older
People who are overweight
People who are ill or on certain medications.
Wasn’t just dc. We got pretty whacked here in PA too. Power was out for hours last night and again this AM The heat
yesterday was almost unbearable. Went outside and stood in the rain.
ha. Yeah...
Without power?
The storms blew through last night, and last I heard, half a million people are without power. Thanks be to God, somehow we didn’t lose ours. Our local news station here in central VA is kaput, and the closest city-—Lynchburg-—is almost totally without power.
God’s answer to roberts and the commies.
Yea, I’m in south central PA and it was a wicked storm. I haven’t seen so much constant lightning in a T-storm in quite a while. But my neighbors to the south got it much worse. I was watching WBAL TV out of Baltimore this morning and the wind damage was incredible. Fortunately I didn’t lose power. I did go out on my deck for a time last night to watch the light show until a very close bolt of lightning drove me back inside.
Half a million people in Virginia, I meant to say.
Half a million people in Virginia, I meant to say.
Half a million people in Virginia, I meant to say.
Half a million people in Virginia, I meant to say.
Sorry for that! I know I hit the button only once.
I’ve been trying to get through to my elderly mother, and my sister in Arlington, Va. Landlines, cell phone, and email knocked out. Neither will survive a prolonged power outage. Neither took steps to prepare for this eventuality, despite my numerous pleas otherwise. Any Freepers know of current situation Arlington specific?
The Sun Gazette just posted that 60% of the Arlington county is without power.
Must be global warming.
Somebody call EPA/NOAA/Dennis Kucinich
DRUDGE is now reporting that over 2 million are without power - and five souls have perished.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/06/30/eastern-u-s-storms-leave-5-dead-2-million-without-power/
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