PITTSBURGH \u2014 It was this time last year when unprecedented storms rocked the Pittsburgh region.<\/p>\n
More than half a million people lost power and for many, it took several days to get the lights back on.<\/p>\n
Not only that, the storms left behind widespread damage.<\/p>\n
A year later and people like Andy Hromoko and the Hosanna House are still working to clean up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was completely decimated,\u201d Hromoko said.<\/p>\n
Last April\u2019s storms ripped up trees and brush and left what the Hosanna House calls its \u201coutdoor classroom\u201d unusable.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur children couldn\u2019t go up there to use it at all,\u201d Hromoko said.<\/p>\n
Volunteers helped the Hosanna House collect all that debris at its Sherwood Event Center.<\/p>\n
They also cleaned and painted.<\/p>\n
All to get the non-profit ready for its annual summer camp.<\/p>\n
Duquesne Light assisted by hiring someone to bring in a wood chipper, among other tasks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout Duquesne Light and all the volunteers that come and do this, we just can\u2019t do it. It\u2019s just too cost prohibited to do those kinds of things,\u201d Hromoko said<\/p>\n
Channel 11 also spoke with Jeremy Castrodad, who works for Duquesne Light and also volunteers for the company.<\/p>\n
He was assessing damage from last April\u2019s unprecedented storm<\/p>\n
\u201cI was actually mind-blown at how drastic the storm was,\u201d Castrodad said.<\/p>\n
More than half a million people lost power.<\/p>\n
It took Duquesne Light 10 days to restore power to all its customers.<\/p>\n
Castrodad recalls working long shifts and says they\u2019d do it all over again for their community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe damage was widespread. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was a historic storm. We handled it the best we could. We worked long shifts, and we worked many days did our best to get people back to power,\u201d Castrodad said.<\/p>\n
Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n