A violent storm in the eastern coast of the US has killed 13 people and left millions without power. The power failure came at the worst time when the region was experiencing 100-degree temperatures. About 3 million were left without electricity to power air conditioners in triple digit heat.
The storm damaged wide areas in the east coast from Indiana down to New Jersey. Most of the damage sustained was in West Virginia, suburban Virginia, Washington, and Maryland. Six of the thirteen killed in the storm lived in Virginia. The fatalities included a 90-year old lady who died when a tree fell on her home as she slept in bed.
In New Jersey, 2 cousins were also killed when a tree fell on their camping tent as they slept in it. In Maryland, 2 people were also killed, 1 in Ohio, 1 in Washington, and 1 in Kentucky. The storm also knocked out the Amtrak rail service from Washington to Philadelphia.
The storm brought hurricane-force winds along a stretch of 500 miles. Utility companies in Virginia and Ohio are calling the damage to power facilities catastrophic. Utility companies say it may take weeks to restore power to all affected homes in the region. Some areas such as Atlanta are experiencing 106 temperatures which compounds the problem and increases health risks to those affected by the storm.
