Some in Centre County may be without power for days after storm caused ‘significant damage’
A day after a severe thunderstorm with high winds ripped through Centre County, hundreds of people are still without power.
As of 6:45 p.m. Monday, 2,034 West Penn Power customers are without power, according to the company’s website. The estimated restoration time for several areas in Centre County is 11 p.m. Wednesday although it may not take that long, Todd Meyers, spokesperson for West Penn Power, said.
“It doesn’t mean that they will be out of power that long. What it means is right now, that’s the best estimate given the information that we have, and it’s important for us as West Penn Power to convey that information to our customers so they can make whatever decision is best for them,” he said. “...It’s sort of giving them the idea that the lights may not be on in the next few hours, that there’s significant damage, and it could be, actually, several days.”
One area that got hit particularly hard is around the State College Regional Airport in Benner Township. Meyers said 14 poles along South Fillmore Road were brought down during the storm.
“Fourteen of those poles are down in a row, and all the wires are down and things are broken off the road there. That’s going to take a significant amount of time there to clean up and to get back up in the air,” Meyers said.
Fox Hollow Road remains closed in both directions between Bernel Road and Fillmore Road.
Several contractors are in the area working with local crews, Meyers said, and more will be brought in as necessary. Crews will work around the clock — 16 hours on, eight hours off — until everything is back to normal.
Meyers urged people to stay at least a school bus length away from any downed wires and to assume all downed or low-hanging power lines are energized and dangerous. Downed lines should be reported immediately to 911.
For those without water, the State College Borough Water Authority has a water fill site at the Alpha Fire Station, 2598 Green Tech Drive, State College. The site will be open until 8 p.m. Monday and reopen on Tuesday. The water should be boiled before using and residents will need to bring their own containers.
The Port Matilda Fire Company will have a warming area at the station for those who need a place to go, it posted on Facebook. Call the station at 814-692-4074 to use the warning area.
The Bellefonte Borough will have extended hours at the compost facility for borough and Spring and Benner Township residents who have storm damage. The compost facility, 264 Musser Lane, Bellefonte, will be open 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily until Thursday, and 5 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday. It will reopen from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday. Compostable items, such as grass clippings, leaves, brush and tree limbs can be brought to the facility.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM.
