Countless power lines went down

Thick layers of ice blanketed much of the Northeast Friday, leaving some 1.25 million homes and businesses without power. It may take several days before electricity is restored.

Nine days before winter officially starts, an ice storm hit New England and making people already sick of winter. The storm poured 2 to 4 inches of rain in the region. Ice blocked roads and ice-laden tree branches cracked and fell on cars. Countless power lines went down.

The ice storm was one of the worst in over a decade, with power outages far exceeding that of the great Ice Storm of 1998 when people spent more than a week without power. The worst hit may be New Hampshire: more than 400,000 homes and businesses in over half of the state had no power.

The power outages extended as far Pennsylvania, but the widest areas affected were in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York.

More than 350,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts are in the dark. Utilities in Maine reported more than 227,000 customers are without power. In New York, particularly in the vicinity of Albany, more than 255,000 have been affected, along with more than 30,000 in Vermont, about 17,000 in Connecticut, and 4,700 in Pennsylvania.

So far only one storm-related death has been reported. A 49-year-old man in Danville, New Hampshire, died in his camper of carbon monoxide poisoning from his generator. He had turned it on after power went out Thursday night.

The governors of Massachusetts and New Hampshire declared states of emergency on Friday and called up members of the National Guard to help clean up debris and clear the way for access to downed power lines. The governor of Maine declared a limited emergency in the state.

The governors warned that power cannot be restored immediately. It is probably going to take several days.

Safety Tips:

* Be alert for fallen wires, trees, or poles. Stay away from all wires; they could be “live.”

* Take steps to keep food in refrigerators safe. Bacteria on foods begin multiplying once food temperature rises above normal refrigeration temperatures.

* Keep the doors of freezers and refrigerators shut; open only when absolutely necessary. Foods will keep longer in refrigeration if doors stay closed.

* Monitor refrigerator and freezer temperatures with a thermometer. Refrigerator temperatures should not rise beyond 40 degrees; freezer temperatures should remain at 0 degrees.

* Dress to stay warm. Remember heat loss is faster through your hands and the top of your head, so were gloves and a knit hat.

* Unplug or turn off major appliances (e.g. TV, stereo, computers, freezers, refrigerators) to prevent damage when power comes back on. Leave a light to signal you that power is restored.

* If you have a generator, do not connect it to your home's power system unless it has been properly installed and disconnects you from the main power grid when it is operating. If you do not disconnect from the power grid, you can be sending electricity back down the lines; not just to your home. That could be deadly for power company workers.

* Use a fireplace or regular wood stove for heat. Never use kerosene heaters or outdoor-type heater inside your home. These devices could produce carbon monoxide, a deadly poisonous gas.

* Drive carefully if you go out, particularly at intersections. Traffic signals will be out during the power outage.