As temperatures soared again on Sunday, utility crews in the mid-Atlantic region raced to remove fallen trees and restore power to about two million customers, even as the area faced the threat of additional thunderstorms.
Two days after a deadly string of thunderstorms tore through the region, officials warned of lingering danger from fallen trees and power lines. Officials in Virginia on Sunday increased the death toll in that state to seven from six, citing a previously unrecorded death in a storm-related traffic accident on Friday. At least 13 people were killed in the storms, most of them by falling trees.
But for many on Sunday, the heat was the greatest concern. Without electricity to power air-conditioners, there were few places to find relief.
Though electricity had been restored to many neighborhoods — more than three million customers had lost power in the storm — authorities said it could be at least a week before all had their electricity back. About 770,000 customers remained without power in Virginia, among the states worst hit. Emergency workers there and in other states opened air-conditioned shelters in libraries and community centers and urged residents keep tabs on neighbors, especially the elderly, who are most susceptible to the heat.
“It is critical that Virginians work together,” the state’s governor, Bob McDonnell, said during a conference call with reporters.
“There is a significant risk of additional storms that could lead to additional outages, so there is a possibility that the situation could deteriorate in the coming days,” he said. “This is going to be a multiday recovery event with dangerously high heat, so everyone needs to remain vigilant.”
There were no reports of heat-related injuries on Sunday, though at least one family in Maryland was treated for carbon monoxide sickness after placing a portable generator outside too close to a fireplace vent, The Associated Press reported. Emergency agencies in several states issued warnings about the dangers of carbon monoxide from generators.
Grocery stores in the region reported runs on ice, water and nonperishable foods. Harris Teeter, a regional grocery chain, quickly dispensed 25,000 bags of ice for free at stores in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Several Harris Teeter stores lost power in the storm, though all were up and running on Sunday, said Catherine Reuhl, a spokeswoman for the chain.
Though many businesses remain closed because of the weekend, some business owners, particularly in restaurants, complained of lost profits and spoiled food.
A fast-food restaurant without power in Reston, Va., sent out Twitter updates as burger patties thawed. One message said: “We’re fighting back tears.”
The National Weather Service described Friday’s storm system as a “derecho,” a fast-moving band that can produce hurricane-force winds. The storms cut through parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and elsewhere, sending panicked residents scrambling into basements, cellars and even bathtubs to protect themselves.
Much of the debris continued to hinder transportation on Sunday. Governor McDonnell said 25 primary roads and 217 smaller roads remained closed.
He said officials were exploring strategies for easing traffic during rush hours on Monday, including staggered work hours.
Two days after a deadly string of thunderstorms tore through the region, officials warned of lingering danger from fallen trees and power lines. Officials in Virginia on Sunday increased the death toll in that state to seven from six, citing a previously unrecorded death in a storm-related traffic accident on Friday. At least 13 people were killed in the storms, most of them by falling trees.
But for many on Sunday, the heat was the greatest concern. Without electricity to power air-conditioners, there were few places to find relief.
Though electricity had been restored to many neighborhoods — more than three million customers had lost power in the storm — authorities said it could be at least a week before all had their electricity back. About 770,000 customers remained without power in Virginia, among the states worst hit. Emergency workers there and in other states opened air-conditioned shelters in libraries and community centers and urged residents keep tabs on neighbors, especially the elderly, who are most susceptible to the heat.
“It is critical that Virginians work together,” the state’s governor, Bob McDonnell, said during a conference call with reporters.
“There is a significant risk of additional storms that could lead to additional outages, so there is a possibility that the situation could deteriorate in the coming days,” he said. “This is going to be a multiday recovery event with dangerously high heat, so everyone needs to remain vigilant.”
There were no reports of heat-related injuries on Sunday, though at least one family in Maryland was treated for carbon monoxide sickness after placing a portable generator outside too close to a fireplace vent, The Associated Press reported. Emergency agencies in several states issued warnings about the dangers of carbon monoxide from generators.
Grocery stores in the region reported runs on ice, water and nonperishable foods. Harris Teeter, a regional grocery chain, quickly dispensed 25,000 bags of ice for free at stores in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Several Harris Teeter stores lost power in the storm, though all were up and running on Sunday, said Catherine Reuhl, a spokeswoman for the chain.
Though many businesses remain closed because of the weekend, some business owners, particularly in restaurants, complained of lost profits and spoiled food.
A fast-food restaurant without power in Reston, Va., sent out Twitter updates as burger patties thawed. One message said: “We’re fighting back tears.”
The National Weather Service described Friday’s storm system as a “derecho,” a fast-moving band that can produce hurricane-force winds. The storms cut through parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and elsewhere, sending panicked residents scrambling into basements, cellars and even bathtubs to protect themselves.
Much of the debris continued to hinder transportation on Sunday. Governor McDonnell said 25 primary roads and 217 smaller roads remained closed.
He said officials were exploring strategies for easing traffic during rush hours on Monday, including staggered work hours.