PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says two people are dead and about 157,000 power outages are reported following the ferocious wind, rain and hail storm that bore down on New York's lower Hudson Valley.

Cuomo said Wednesday that falling trees in Newburgh claimed the lives of an 11-year-old girl in a parked car and a woman who was driving.

The National Weather Service is investigating whether any tornadoes occurred Tuesday. Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. reported 78 mph wind gusts and about 1,000 lighting strikes per hour.

Thousands of utility workers were working feverishly to restore power. Putnam County grappled with 144 closed roads.

Cuomo, a Democrat, said there could be federal assistance, depending on the extent of the damage.

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