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| US storm-hit millions swelter in heatwave | US storm-hit millions swelter in heatwave |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost two million people remain without power in the eastern US following storms that have been blamed for 22 deaths since Friday. | |
| Amid an ongoing heatwave, utilities warned it could take several more days to restore electricity in many places. | |
| Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and the District of Columbia declared states of emergency over the weekend. | Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and the District of Columbia declared states of emergency over the weekend. |
| Power outages persisted on Monday from North Carolina to New Jersey, and as far west as Illinois. | Power outages persisted on Monday from North Carolina to New Jersey, and as far west as Illinois. |
| More than 300,000 customers in Washington DC and the areas of Virginia and Maryland on its perimiter remained without power late on Monday, the Washington Post reported. | |
| It's not exactly crossing the Sahara on foot, but adjusting to life without power in Washington's leafy suburbs brings its challenges. | It's not exactly crossing the Sahara on foot, but adjusting to life without power in Washington's leafy suburbs brings its challenges. |
| The first 24 hours after Friday night's storm triggered a host of questions: what on earth is a "derecho"? Why can't you leave lettuce in a fridge with dry ice? And how long will the basement stay cool, the longer this goes on? | The first 24 hours after Friday night's storm triggered a host of questions: what on earth is a "derecho"? Why can't you leave lettuce in a fridge with dry ice? And how long will the basement stay cool, the longer this goes on? |
| While there's still hot water in the tank and fresh food in the house, it's an adventure. But after 48 hours, the adventure slowly sours. The dry ice is gone. The fridge, previously a treasure trove of fresh produce, is poised to become my enemy, armed with biological weapons. | While there's still hot water in the tank and fresh food in the house, it's an adventure. But after 48 hours, the adventure slowly sours. The dry ice is gone. The fridge, previously a treasure trove of fresh produce, is poised to become my enemy, armed with biological weapons. |
| Bit by bit, the basement is heating up. Nothing like the sauna upstairs, but not quite so welcoming any more. The big tree that came crashing down at the bottom of our road, bringing a tangle of power lines with it, sits untouched. It's going to be a while before the power comes back on. | Bit by bit, the basement is heating up. Nothing like the sauna upstairs, but not quite so welcoming any more. The big tree that came crashing down at the bottom of our road, bringing a tangle of power lines with it, sits untouched. It's going to be a while before the power comes back on. |
| And there's no sign of a break in the weather. | And there's no sign of a break in the weather. |
| Although temperatures dropped slightly on Monday, they continue to nudge 100F (38C), and many householders have no functioning air conditioning or refrigerators. | |
| Officials are urging residents to check up on elderly or sick neighbours. | Officials are urging residents to check up on elderly or sick neighbours. |
| Bob Ambrosini, who had no power at his home in the US capital's suburb of Great Falls, told the Washington Post: "I've been living in the swimming pool." | Bob Ambrosini, who had no power at his home in the US capital's suburb of Great Falls, told the Washington Post: "I've been living in the swimming pool." |
| Melissa Kitner-Triolo told the Baltimore Sun the storm was "pretty terrifying". | Melissa Kitner-Triolo told the Baltimore Sun the storm was "pretty terrifying". |
| "I think it was one of the worst storms we had, as far as how quickly it came up," she said. | "I think it was one of the worst storms we had, as far as how quickly it came up," she said. |
| Heat advisories are in effect for parts of 17 states, with forecasters saying there is no relief in sight: "Hot and hotter will continue to be the story from the plains to the Atlantic Coast for the next few days," the National Weather Service said. | |
| The city of Athens, Georgia reached an all-time high of 108F (42C) on Sunday. | The city of Athens, Georgia reached an all-time high of 108F (42C) on Sunday. |
| The Monday morning commute was less busy than usual around the metropolitan Washington DC area as federal and state agencies allowed non-emergency workers to take leave or work from home. | The Monday morning commute was less busy than usual around the metropolitan Washington DC area as federal and state agencies allowed non-emergency workers to take leave or work from home. |
| But hundreds of traffic lights were still not working in Maryland because of power outages. | But hundreds of traffic lights were still not working in Maryland because of power outages. |
| The damage was mostly blamed on a meteorological phenomenon known as a derecho, where hurricane-force winds are buffeted ahead of fast-moving thunderstorms. | The damage was mostly blamed on a meteorological phenomenon known as a derecho, where hurricane-force winds are buffeted ahead of fast-moving thunderstorms. |
| It swept a 500-mile (800-km) swathe of the mid-Atlantic region on Friday night. | It swept a 500-mile (800-km) swathe of the mid-Atlantic region on Friday night. |
| Another storm on Sunday brought wind gusts of up to 90 mph (145 km/h) and knocked out power to more than 200,000 people in north-eastern Illinois. Half of those remained without power on Monday. | Another storm on Sunday brought wind gusts of up to 90 mph (145 km/h) and knocked out power to more than 200,000 people in north-eastern Illinois. Half of those remained without power on Monday. |
| Trees falling on homes and cars have been blamed for most of the extreme weather-related deaths. | Trees falling on homes and cars have been blamed for most of the extreme weather-related deaths. |
| Among the six people killed in Virginia was a 90-year-old woman who was asleep in bed when a tree fell on her home. | Among the six people killed in Virginia was a 90-year-old woman who was asleep in bed when a tree fell on her home. |
| Two young cousins camping in New Jersey died when a tree collapsed on their tent. Two others died in Maryland, one in Ohio, one in Kentucky and another in Washington DC. | Two young cousins camping in New Jersey died when a tree collapsed on their tent. Two others died in Maryland, one in Ohio, one in Kentucky and another in Washington DC. |
| In other fatalities: | In other fatalities: |
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| Emergency dispatchers were unable to take 911 calls in parts of Virginia during the storm. A phone company spokesman told CBS News that the storm had affected power to the call-routing facility. | Emergency dispatchers were unable to take 911 calls in parts of Virginia during the storm. A phone company spokesman told CBS News that the storm had affected power to the call-routing facility. |
| Utility workers have been drafted in from as far away as Florida and Oklahoma to help turn the power back on. | Utility workers have been drafted in from as far away as Florida and Oklahoma to help turn the power back on. |
| Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley said he would ensure utility companies restored electricity quickly. | Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley said he would ensure utility companies restored electricity quickly. |
| "No-one will have his boot further up Pepco's and BGE's backsides than I will," he said on Sunday afternoon, referring to the two main power firms serving the state. | "No-one will have his boot further up Pepco's and BGE's backsides than I will," he said on Sunday afternoon, referring to the two main power firms serving the state. |
| The storm damage also caused online disruption, with Netflix, Instagram and Pinterest services temporarily disabled. | The storm damage also caused online disruption, with Netflix, Instagram and Pinterest services temporarily disabled. |
| Have you been affected by the storms? Are you without power? If you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC please fill in the form below. | Have you been affected by the storms? Are you without power? If you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC please fill in the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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