Blizzard paralyses U.S. mid-Atlantic.
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Sunday, February 07, 2010
The heaviest snow storms for decades have struck the eastern US, paralysing air and road transport, and bringing Washington DC to a standstill.
Snow fell from southern Indiana eastward to New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the New Jersey coast, gripping states and paralysing traffic. Snowstorms totaling 20 to 38 inches (51 to 99 cm) left tens of thousands without power and creating a winter wonderland in a region not used to big snows.
The blizzard has left hundreds of thousands of customers from Virginia to Pennsylvania without power, utility companies said. As of 7 p.m., 92,840 customers were without power, Dominion Virginia Power said, down from 207,000 customers Saturday morning.
More than 230,000 homes lost power in the Washington area after the snow fallen trees brought down power lines and damaged utility poles.
The mayor of Washington DC, and the governors of Virginia and Maryland have declared states of emergency.
Hundreds of car accidents were reported, including two fatalities - a father and son who died while helping another motorist in Virginia.