Derecho in Pittsburgh

Did you make it out of the storm okay?! For those of you not in Pittsburgh, we had a severe storm on Tuesday. Many houses, cars and power lines along the street all suffered significant damage from the hundreds of downed trees. Many are calling it a “derechos”. Wind reached around 80 MPH, and there was a lot of flooding. At one point, 400,000 homes were out of power. I personally was driving home at 5 when the storm hit, and I gotta say I can’t remember a time I was more terrified. I got home safely, but I know some did not. At least three people lost their lives.

Why bring this up in a blog about vinyl records? Well, I think it’s important to remember how vital community is. I saw neighbors making extra food for others, I heard about people buying gift cards to their favorite local spots to ensure the business wouldn’t lose money, I saw people offering their homes for others to stay in whose power still hadn’t come on. It’s a time when we remember people are inherently good.

At Hellbender Vinyl, community is the most important thing. We want to be there for yinz. If you need power, we got power. We have a small fridge if you need to store food. We got you. We have running water if you need to fill up. Just email Tory if you need to swing by! tory@hellbendervinyl.com. We’ll be here til 5.

We’re proud to be part of a community that responds with resilience and compassion. In the spirit of vinyl, where every press requires precise care and attention, Pittsburgh reminded us that even the strongest storms can lead to something beautifully renewed. If you want to help future recovery efforts, consider supporting local tree‑planting initiatives or neighborhood cleanup drives—Pittsburgh’s spirit is only as strong as the hands that carry it forward.

Hellbender Vinyl <3