Cleanup begins after deadly PA storms

LEWIS RUN, PA. (WIVB) - A woman from Allegany County did not survive when the wrath of Thursdays storm struck Pennsylvania.

Sixty-six-year-old Linda Button of Andover was killed by a falling tree at a campground in Pennsylvania's Genesee Township in Potter County. Potter as well as McKean County suffered extensive damage when a confirmed tornado touched down in Coudersport, PA and straight line winds heavily damaged other areas, including Lewis Run, PA.

>> See photos of the powerful storm here, including pictures of downed trees, torn apart sheds, and damaged homes

Numerous trees were uprooted and property was damaged as the trees fell down across homes and power lines. Right now, crews are focused on restoring power to residents.

"The main thing is we have to get the trees off the power lines before we can get the power back up because the linemen can't address the poles until the trees are off it," said tree removal worker Chris Flagg.

The powerful storm rolled through McKean County Thursday afternoon, and on Friday, weather officials were on the ground assessing what happened.

"It looks like the winds accelerated down the hill behind us, and almost all of the trees are falling from what appears to be an advanced micro burst coming down the hillside," said Richard Grumm of the National Weather Service.

Crews are working around the clock. There are still some secondary roads closed across the county.

McKean County Sheriff Bruce Mason said, "It still remains to be dangerous because there are hazards as far as trees, electric lines, some roads blocked."

Bruce Manning of McKean County Emergency Management added, "It's quite a mess. It's probably the largest storm I've seen come through the county in many years as far as the widespreadness of it. I've seen other storms where trees have come down, but not this big of an area."

Residents are in a cleanup mode, and crews are asking for their patience as they work to get the power back on.

"We got a lot of crews out here to accomplish that task," Flagg said.