With Christmas less than a day away, an ice storm affecting the Northeast from Maine down to Michigan has left about 500,000 without power.
About 170,000 in Michigan are currently without power, reports The New York Times. Power company Consumers Energy spokesperson Debra Dodd said, "We are working as hard as we can to get people back on. We recognize that this is a terrible time for this to happen."
Some counties in Michigan could be without power until late in the week, the power company estimated. DTE Energy has said that though many are without power, most of those affected will be fine come Christmas.
American Red Cross has Warming shelters prepared with food and blankets for any who need help during this time in Lapeer County, which is north of Detroit.
The storm moved in over the weekend and dumped at least two inches of ice across the Northeast, as well as southern Canada. Temperatures in many places remain below freezing. The National Weather service says that Maine will have areas that, due to wind chill, will feel like minus 20. Other areas have 25 mph winds, which might result in "ice-laden trees and power lines to snap and come down."
According to The Associated Press, at least 7,000 flights have been canceled due to the weather and at least 11 people in the U.S. have died as a result of the ice storm. Two in Canada died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a gas generator they used to heat their powerless house.
image: Wikimedia Commons
