Butler Eagle reporters have been keeping an eye trained on the flashes of severe weather that have blown through the county with some devastating effects.

On Monday, we learned that Butler County Emergency Services reported more than 250 calls for downed trees and power lines and other debris caused by heavy winds Saturday afternoon.

Staff reported that police and fire transmission on the county system was “rapid-fire” as emergency crews reported closed roads and tree removal in every corner of the county. Sam’s Club in Moraine Pointe Plaza was evacuated that afternoon when smoke appeared in the building.

By about 4 p.m. on Saturday, 20,529 West Penn Power customers were without electricity, which equated to more than 20% of customers in the county. By 5:15 p.m., that number was down to 16,697 customers without power.

It’s times like these when we have to remember to thank the crews that respond to emergency calls in all conditions, whether it be blizzards or severe thunderstorms.

It’s important to be mindful of the reality that while we’re lighting candles in darkened homes and/or neighborhoods and hunkering down in relative safety, they are headed into dangerous situations where one gust of wind might change the game at any minute.

In a follow-up article, we learned that by Monday, April 3, FirstEnergy crews and power line contractors had reduced the 19,000 or so West Penn Power and Penn Power customer outages in Butler County to 6,260.

Some of those crews came to the rescue from as far away as Louisiana and Florida, pouring a great deal of their time into making sure as many residents as possible could return to normal in a short amount of time.

When bad weather does strike, we can lessen the burden these men and women feel by making sure our neighbors — particularly the elderly or anyone else who may be marooned by the inclement conditions — are safe and taken care of while they do their jobs.

We’re extremely grateful to all responders this week and always.

— CM