2 tornadoes, storms in Alle-Kiski Valley leave widespread damage in wake
Monica Taylor said her house started shaking early Wednesday when a storm rolled through New Kensington, then she worried the house might come off its foundation.
“The house felt like it was about to come up off the ground,” Taylor said.
The National Weather Service later determined a tornado touched down near Tarentum and continued 4 miles into New Kensington.
In addition, powerful straight-line winds caused the worst damage, though. Such wind and heavy rain wound up inflicting little damage on Taylor’s Ridge Avenue home, aside from ripping shingles off her roof.
But the neighboring St. Mary of Czestochowa didn’t fare so well: the high winds ripped off much of the historic Polish church’s roof.
Much of the debris fell onto Kenneth Avenue, closing it to traffic.
Crews used heavy equipment to remove the large pieces of wood and metal debris. Other people walked around with bags picking up small pieces.
“This is so heartbreaking for our parishioners, especially the older ones who have so much of their history connected with this church building,” said Monsignor Michael Begolly, who serves as pastor of St. Mary as well as the nearby St. Joseph and Mount St. Peter.
The cornerstone of St. Mary dates to 1911. Its congregation has about 600 families.
“I’m convinced that our parish will rally and the people of New Kensington come together to support us as we move forward. At this point the only thing we need are prayers,” Begolly said, adding church officials were still in the process of assessing the damage.
St. Mary isn’t alone. Damage across the region was widespread.
The high winds brought down numerous trees and power lines and knocked out power to more than 40,000 customers at its peak. Many trees fell across roadways, blocking traffic, while others fell onto cars and houses.
In addition to St. Mary’s, roofs were torn off several buildings in New Kensington, including the GTS Services construction company building on Constitution Boulevard and the building housing a new Voodoo Brewery on Fifth Avenue.
Voodoo owner Mike Malcanas said the brewery had been close to opening when businesses deemed nonessential were ordered to shut down because of the covid-19 pandemic.
He said there was damage inside from water getting in during the storm. The full extent, or how long it will take to fix, was not immediately clear. Crews were working on the roof Wednesday morning.
“There will have to be significant reconstruction. My heart goes out to the (St. Mary) parishioners,” New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “Other areas were hit hard also in downtown, Parnassus and Valley Heights. Trees and wires are down in many places, and many neighborhoods are without power.”
Guzzo said city firefighters, police and other first responders had been out since about 1 a.m.
“They have done and continue to do such an outstanding job. They are simply amazing,” Guzzo said. “As I surveyed all of the damage throughout our entire town, I am thankful that nobody was seriously hurt or worse.”
Frazer couple get close call
Tina and Rich Anderson heard rumbling outside their home along the 1500 block of Days Run Road in Frazer around 1:30 a.m. What they experienced was a tornado.
“It sounded like a Norfolk Southern train was on my porch,” Rich Anderson said.
Some shingles from Rich’s mother’s house next door crashed through their bedroom window, and a large tree fell across the road less than 100 yards away.
“I hear a crash,” Tina Anderson said. “I’m running out the bedroom and he’s running into the bedroom.”
Another tree fell from the hillside across from Anderson’s home and onto West Penn Power lines, knocking out electricity.
No one was injured, and the trees missed the homes and vehicles.
The Andersons have a 6-foot American flag flying from a 24-foot pole in their front yard.
“The first thing we got back up was the flag,” Rich Anderson said.
“It could have been a lot worse.”
The couple has lived in Frazer for at least 16 years and has never seen a storm like Wednesday morning.
“We’ve had some heavy winds, but nothing like that,” Rich Anderson said. “Structurally we’re sound. I don’t think we have to worry about the porch falling in or anything like that.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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