The mayor of a Westmoreland County community has declared a disaster emergency after intense storms caused serious damage across the region. Damage in the Scottdale area on Saturday was caused by 100 mph straight-line winds, the National Weather Service confirmed after a storm survey on Monday.See the damage in the video player aboveScottdale Mayor Lindy House said the disaster declaration authorizes her to employ relief services, expediting the process of getting critical assistance with clean-up efforts.”Instead of the council having to go through the long bidding process of being able to hire a tree service to come in, doing the emergency declaration, that allows me to be able to make that call,” House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Jordan Cioppa.The disaster declaration comes after high winds and heavy rainfall swept through Western Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon. Tornadoes were confirmed near Ellsworth, Washington County, and in the South Huntingdon Township area of Westmoreland County.Fallen trees were scattered across yards, parks, and streets in Scottdale on Sunday. “It looks like a massacre happened. It was a lot of devastation and a lot of kind of wreckage with all of the trees — very strong trees that just couldn’t withstand the winds,” said Scottdale resident Jordan Grimm. Michael Mehall said he heard a loud “roaring sound” on Saturday, before he and his family took action. “I knew immediately that it was the real deal. We gathered up our animals, my wife, my daughter, and we all went downstairs in the basement, and you could just hear like a loud roar. It was very distinct,” Mehall said.Owen Kopcho described intense wind, heavy rain and snapping trees during the storm.”It’s crazy what happened,” Kopcho said.House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that trees blocked roads and fell on cars, but she said luckily no homes were lost to the storm.“People weren’t even able to get through to 911. It was just an overabundance of calls, but our first responders – I can’t speak highly enough of them. They’re phenomenal,” House said.The mayor thanked her community for showing up for their neighbors in the wake of the severe weather.”As soon as the worst of the storm had passed, it was still raining, and I jumped in my Jeep and started driving around the streets, and people were already in the roads and they were already going and checking on each other, and that hasn’t stopped since the storm happened,” House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa. House urged people to use caution and to avoid downed power lines. View our previous coverage: Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

SCOTTDALE, Pa. —

The mayor of a Westmoreland County community has declared a disaster emergency after intense storms caused serious damage across the region.

Damage in the Scottdale area on Saturday was caused by 100 mph straight-line winds, the National Weather Service confirmed after a storm survey on Monday.

See the damage in the video player above

Scottdale Mayor Lindy House said the disaster declaration authorizes her to employ relief services, expediting the process of getting critical assistance with clean-up efforts.

“Instead of the council having to go through the long bidding process of being able to hire a tree service to come in, doing the emergency declaration, that allows me to be able to make that call,” House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Jordan Cioppa.

The disaster declaration comes after high winds and heavy rainfall swept through Western Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon. Tornadoes were confirmed near Ellsworth, Washington County, and in the South Huntingdon Township area of Westmoreland County.

Fallen trees were scattered across yards, parks, and streets in Scottdale on Sunday.

“It looks like a massacre happened. It was a lot of devastation and a lot of kind of wreckage with all of the trees — very strong trees that just couldn’t withstand the winds,” said Scottdale resident Jordan Grimm.

Michael Mehall said he heard a loud “roaring sound” on Saturday, before he and his family took action.

“I knew immediately that it was the real deal. We gathered up our animals, my wife, my daughter, and we all went downstairs in the basement, and you could just hear like a loud roar. It was very distinct,” Mehall said.

Owen Kopcho described intense wind, heavy rain and snapping trees during the storm.

“It’s crazy what happened,” Kopcho said.

House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that trees blocked roads and fell on cars, but she said luckily no homes were lost to the storm.

“People weren’t even able to get through to 911. It was just an overabundance of calls, but our first responders – I can’t speak highly enough of them. They’re phenomenal,” House said.

The mayor thanked her community for showing up for their neighbors in the wake of the severe weather.

“As soon as the worst of the storm had passed, it was still raining, and I jumped in my Jeep and started driving around the streets, and people were already in the roads and they were already going and checking on each other, and that hasn’t stopped since the storm happened,” House told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa.

House urged people to use caution and to avoid downed power lines.

View our previous coverage:

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