2012 — June 29, Derecho, esp. Mid-Atlantic, Deaths: DC, KY, MD, OH, NJ, VA-20-24

—     24  Assoc. Press (NPR). “Easy Fix Eludes Power Outage Problems in US.” 7-4-2012.[1]

—     23  Associated Press. “Derecho’s Death Toll Now Up to Twenty Three.” 7-3-2012.

—     22  Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification.[2]

–20-21  Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

—   >17  National Storm Damage Center. “Violent Derecho Storm Hits Mid-Atlantic…” 7-3-12.

—     13  Wall St. Jour. “Eastern U.S. Storms Kill 13, Leave Millions Without Power.” 6-30-2012

—     13  CBS News/AP. “At least 13 deaths blamed on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012, 9:52.

—     12  Fox News. “States declare emergency after storms leave 12 dead…” 6-30-2012.

—     11  Pydynowski. “Intense Storms Called a ‘Derecho’ Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012

—     10  CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012.

 

District of Columbia (   1)

—  1  DC.  CBS News/AP. “At least 12 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012, 1:50.

—  1  DC.  Electrocution. Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 mod.

 

Kentucky                   (   1)

—  1  State.  WSJ. “Eastern U.S. Storms Kill 13, Leave Millions Without Power.” 6-30-2012.

—  1  North Middletown. Pydynowski. “Intense Storms…Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012.

—  1     “             “ tree fall. SPC, NWS, NOAA. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

 

Maryland                   (2-3)

— 3  State.  Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification.

— 2  State.  CBS News/AP. “At least 12 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012, 1:50

— 1  Garrett Co., utility worker. AP. “Easy Fix Eludes Power Outage Problems in US.” 7-4-2012

 

New Jersey                 (   2)

—  2  State.  CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012.

—  2  Parvin State Park. Pydynowski. “Intense Storms…Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012.

—  2      “          “       “   Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification.

—  2  Salem Co., Centerton. Tree fall on tent.  SPC, NWS. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

 

Ohio                            (    1)

—  1  State.  CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012.

—  1     “      Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification.

 

Virginia                      ( 13)

— 13  Associated Press. “Derecho: Virginia’s storm death toll rises to 13.” 7-5-2012.

— 11  NBC News. “Number of derecho-related fatalities in Virginia rises to 11.” 7-3-2012.

— 11  Associated Press. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

–6-7  Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification.

—   6  Tree falls. CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blames…eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012

—   2  Albemarle County. AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   1  Albemarle Co., near Ivy, tree. SPC, NWS, NOAA. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

—   1        “     Keene, tree fall on driver.  SPC, NWS, NOAA. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

—   2  Bedford County. AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   2       “ Big Island storm-related house fire.  Wikipedia. “June 2012 [NA] derecho.” 7-9-2012.

—   1  Chesapeake. Associated Press. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   3  Fairfax County. AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   1        “    Burke, tree hits motorist. SPC, NWS. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

—   1        “    Springfield. Pydynowski. “Intense Storms…Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012.

—   1        “           “           tree on car. SPC, NWS, NOAA. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

—   1        “ West Springfield, tree. SPC, NWS, NOAA. “SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12.”

—   1  Franklin Co., SE of Roanoke. Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012.

—   1  Loudoun County. AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   1  Montgomery County. AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

—   1  Roanoke (city).  AP. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.

 

Narrative Information

 

June 30: “(CBS/AP) Violent storms swept across the eastern U.S., killing at least 10 people and knocking out power to millions of people on a day that temperatures across the region are expected to reach triple-digits.

 

“The Mid-Atlantic region had already been experiencing 100-degree temperatures before Friday evening’s violent storms. More than 3 million are without power — and without air conditioning — as crews work to clear downed tree limbs and restore electricity.

 

“The storms were blamed for the deaths of six people in Virginia; two in New Jersey; and another in Maryland. Police in Ohio said another woman died in the storms, but no details were available.

 

“In suburban Washington, residents were told to call non-emergency phone numbers or go to fire and police stations if they needed help because even 911 emergency call centers were without electricity.  Power outages were reported from Indiana to New Jersey, with the bulk of the service interruptions concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic region. Earlier Friday, the nation’s capital reached 104 degrees — topping a record of 101 set in 1934….

 

“Among the fatalities: A 90-year-old Virginia woman asleep in bed when a tree slammed into her home, and two young cousins on a camping trip in southern New Jersey.

 

“Anne Arundel County, Md., police said in a news release Saturday that 25-year-old Kevin Obrien was killed when a tree fell onto his car late Friday. Two other people in the car suffered minor injuries.

 

“In Pittsgrove, N.J., police say two boys, ages 2 and 7, were killed after a tree fell on their tent during the storm early Saturday at Parvin State Park. Authorities say the boys’ families had been camping at adjacent sites when the storm hit, and the families decided to huddle together in one tent. They say the heavy winds and rains from the storm snapped a pine tree, which then fell on the families’ tent.  The boys suffered serious injuries and died….

 

“Amtrak suspended its service from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia due to the storms, at least until mid-morning….

 

“A line of thunderstorms, 100 miles from tip-to-toe, rolled through the Washington. D.C. area Friday night packing winds of 50-to-80 mph, reports Topper Shutt of CBS D.C. affiliate WUSA-TV. The same clump of storms hit southeastern Ohio and West Virginia with hurricane force winds Friday evening. These types of storms, known as Musicale Convective System, or Derecho, are usually seen in the Midwest and not in the Mid-Atlantic, Shutt adds….

 

“On Friday, the nation’s capital reached 104 degrees — topping a record of 101 set in 1934.”  (CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blames on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012.)

 

June 30, Fox News: “Washington — Three governors declared a state of emergency after powerful storms swept through the eastern United States Friday night, resulting in at least 12 deaths and leaving more than three million without power.  Under the statewide emergency declaration, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio, can utilize all government resources immediately to help those in need. The District of Columbia also declared a state of emergency.

 

“Gov. John Kasich cited widespread power losses in Ohio, utility damages and excessive heat that could create crisis conditions for some Ohioans. State emergency officials say 800,000 to 1 million people still had power outages Saturday morning.

“West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency after more than 500,000 customers in 27 counties were left without electricity. Current estimates have 688,000 people without power in the state. Tomblin’s office says the state is running out of fuel and they’re fearful that they will run out of gas.

 

“Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said the state had its largest non-hurricane power outage in its history. There are 2.5 million without power.

“There were six reported deaths in Virginia, including a 90-year-old woman asleep in bed when a tree slammed into her home, a police spokeswoman said Saturday. Another man was killed by a falling tree while watching the storm from his deck and a woman died after she, too, was hit by a falling tree after she got out of her car to observe a downed tree. Both those deaths occurred in Albemarle County, Va. A fallen tree also killed a man driving in Maryland, and another resident was killed in a separate incident. A woman was also killed when a barn collapsed in Ohio….

 

“The storms, sometimes packing 70 mph winds, toppled three tractor trailers on Interstate 75 near Findlay, Ohio….

“As of 1 a.m. Saturday, Pepco was reporting 406,000 outages in the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Md.  “We have more than half our system down,” said Pepco spokeswoman Myra Oppel. “This is definitely going to be a multi-day outage.”

 

“Amtrak suspended its service from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia due to the storms, at least until mid-morning. Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia reporting some power issues with a computer system that handles airline departure/arrival information.

 

“In the Washington, D.C., area, the Metrorail subway trains were returned to their endpoints due to the storms and related damage, officials said.  “It has had a widespread effect on the region,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said early Saturday. He said about 17 train stations were operating on backup power due to local power outages, but that he didn’t anticipate service being disrupted on Saturday.”  (Fox News.  “States declare emergency after storms leave 12 dead and millions without power.” 6-30-2012.)

 

Pydynowski: “A “super derecho” of violent thunderstorms left a more than 700-mile trail of destruction across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic on Friday, cutting power to millions and killing eleven people. More than 450 damaging wind reports were received by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) as the derecho took roughly 12 hours to race from northern Indiana to the southern mid-Atlantic coast.  A derecho is defined as a widespread and long-lived wind storm that accompanies rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. The most severe derechos are given the adjective “super.”

 

“Winds gusted to 91 mph (equal to that of a category 1 hurricane) at the Fort Wayne International Airport, Ind., Friday afternoon.

 

“As the derecho maintained its violent nature, an 81 mph gust was then measured at Tuckerton, on the southern New Jersey coast, early Saturday morning.

 

“Downed trees dominated the damaging wind reports and led to the deaths of 11 people, according to Fox News.

 

“One of the multiple trees that crashed into homes in Springfield, Va., killed a 90-year-old woman as she was sleeping in her bed, according to the Associated Press.

 

“A few hours earlier, a falling tree outside of North Middletown, Ky., (located east-northeast of Lexington) killed a man who was attempting to clear some tree limbs off a road….

 

“Friday’s super derecho was triggered by a ripple in the jet stream and fueled by the intense heat that caused Washington, D.C., to set a June record high and Columbia, S.C., to break its all-time record on Friday.

 

“Derechos typically strike the lower Midwest states once every year, according to the SPC. The occurrence of derechos, however, are quite rare across the mid-Atlantic, south of Philadelphia. On average, this region endures a derecho once every four years.”  (Pydynowski, Kristina. “Intense Storms Called a ‘Derecho’ Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012.)

 

Aug 3, NCDC: “During the last few days of June, 2012, the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States was ravaged by a unique type of severe wind storm, called a “derecho.”….The June 2012 derecho was blamed for 17 deaths, widespread power outages from downed power lines, and excessive property damage.”  (National Storm Damage Center. “Violent Derecho Storm Hits Mid-Atlantic Causing Massive Property Damage and At least 17 Deaths.” 7-3-2012.)

 

Aug 4, AP/NPR: “Washington (AP)….The storms that began Friday knocked out power to 3 million and have been responsible for the deaths of 24 people in seven states and the District of Columbia, including a utility contractor who fell to his death Monday in Garrett County, Md….”  (Associated Press (NPR). “Easy Fix Eludes Power Outage Problems in US.” 7-4-2012.)

 

Virginia

 

July 3: “Richmond, Va. (AP) – The number of Virginia fatalities related to the weekend’s severe storms has climbed to 11, Gov. Bob McDonnel’s office said Tuesday.

“A fatality in Loudoun County can be attributed to the severe weather, the governor’s office said. State officials previously confirmed 10 other storm-related fatalities: two in Albemarle County, two in Bedford County, one in the city of Chesapeake, three in Fairfax County, one in Montgomery County and one in the city of Roanoke.”  (Associated Press. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012.)

 

July 5:  “Richmond — Virginia’s death toll from last weekend’s storms has climbed to 13 with a fatality in Fairfax County, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday.  Bob Spieldenner of the Department of Emergency Management said the death was attributed to heat and the storm, but further details were not immediately available.

 

“McDonnell said that by late Thursday afternoon, the number of Virginia homes and businesses still without electric power had declined to 95,475. That was down from a peak of about 1.2 million right after winds of up to 80 mph hammered the state, knocking down trees and snapping power lines….”  (Associated Press. “Derecho: Virginia’s storm death toll rises to 13.” 7-5-2012.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Derecho: Virginia’s storm death toll rises to 13.” 7-5-2012.  Accessed 7-9-2012 at: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120705/ESN01/120705030/Virginia-s-storm-death-toll-rises-13?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Eastern%20Shore%20News

 

Associated Press. “Derecho’s Death Toll Now Up to Twenty Three.” 7-3-2012. Accessed 7-9-2012 at: http://wmal.com/article.asp?id=2486815&SPID=28718

 

Associated Press. “Easy Fix Eludes Power Outage Problems in US.” 7-4-2012. Accessed 7-9-2012 at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=156225479

 

Associated Press. “Virginia derecho storm deaths climb to 11.” 7-3-2012. Accessed 7-9-2012 at:

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/jul/03/virginia-derecho-storm-deaths-climb-11-ar-2031810/

 

CBS News/AP. “At least 10 deaths blamed on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012. Accessed at:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57464392/at-least-10-deaths-blamed-on-eastern-u.s-storms/

 

CBS News/AP. “At least 13 deaths blamed on eastern U.S. storms.” 6-30-2012, 9:52 PM. Accessed 6-6-2015 at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-least-13-deaths-blamed-on-eastern-us-storms/

 

Fox News. “States declare emergency after storms leave 12 dead and millions without power.” 6-30-2012. http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/06/30/mid-atlantic-storms-knock-out-power-to-nearly-2-million/?test=latestnews

 

National Storm Damage Center. “Violent Derecho Storm Hits Mid-Atlantic Causing Massive Property Damage and At least 17 Deaths.” 7-3-2012. Accessed 7-9-2012 at: http://stormdamagecenter.org/blog/?p=37

 

NBC News. “Number of derecho-related fatalities in Virginia rises to 11.” 7-3-2012. 7-9-2012 at: http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGOSLiwkM/2012/07/03/number-of-derecho-related-fatalities-in-virginia-rises-to-11-stateme

 

Pydynowski, Kristina. “Intense Storms Called a ‘Derecho’ Slam 700 Miles of the US.” 6-30-2012. At: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/deadly-super-derecho-strikes-m/67383

 

Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service, NOAA. SPC Storm Reports for 06/29/12. Norman, OK. Accessed at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/120629_rpts.html

 

Wall Street Journal. “Eastern U.S. Storms Kill 13, Leave Millions Without Power.” 6-30-2012. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303561504577498392564486970.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

Wikipedia. “June 2012 North American derecho.” 7-9-2012 modification. Accessed 7-9-2012 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2012_North_American_derecho

 

[1] No breakout of where the fatalities were thought to have occurred is provided.

[2] The State and DC breakouts in this report do not add to 22, but to 13-14.