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| More than a million still without power as temperatures rise on US east coast | More than a million still without power as temperatures rise on US east coast |
| (4 months later) | |
| The relentless heat that has gripped the US east coast showed no sign of abating on Tuesday, as power companies warned that some people may be without electricity into next week. | The relentless heat that has gripped the US east coast showed no sign of abating on Tuesday, as power companies warned that some people may be without electricity into next week. |
| Utility crews struggled to catch up with a backlog of millions of people without power for a fourth hot day. Authorities feared the toll of 22 storm deaths could rise because of stifling conditions and generator fumes. | Utility crews struggled to catch up with a backlog of millions of people without power for a fourth hot day. Authorities feared the toll of 22 storm deaths could rise because of stifling conditions and generator fumes. |
| Power was back for more than a million customers, but lights and air conditioning were still out for about 1.4m homes and businesses in seven states and the District of Columbia. | Power was back for more than a million customers, but lights and air conditioning were still out for about 1.4m homes and businesses in seven states and the District of Columbia. |
| The damage was caused by powerful wind storms that swept from the midwest to the mid-Atlantic states late Friday, toppling trees and branches into power lines and knocking out big transmission towers and electrical substations. | The damage was caused by powerful wind storms that swept from the midwest to the mid-Atlantic states late Friday, toppling trees and branches into power lines and knocking out big transmission towers and electrical substations. |
| Utilities were warning that many neighborhoods could remain in the dark for much of the week, if not beyond. But public officials and residents were growing impatient. | Utilities were warning that many neighborhoods could remain in the dark for much of the week, if not beyond. But public officials and residents were growing impatient. |
| "This has happened time after time and year after year, and it seems as if they're always unprepared," said John Murphy, a professional chauffeur, who was waiting for the power company to restore electricity. | "This has happened time after time and year after year, and it seems as if they're always unprepared," said John Murphy, a professional chauffeur, who was waiting for the power company to restore electricity. |
| The wave of late Friday evening storms, called a derecho, moved quickly across the region with little warning. The straight-line winds were just as destructive as any hurricane but when a tropical system strikes, officials usually have several days to get extra personnel in place. | The wave of late Friday evening storms, called a derecho, moved quickly across the region with little warning. The straight-line winds were just as destructive as any hurricane but when a tropical system strikes, officials usually have several days to get extra personnel in place. |
| So utility companies had to wait days for extra crews traveling from as far away as Quebec and Oklahoma. And workers found that the toppled trees and power lines often entangled broken equipment in debris that had to be removed before workers could even get started. | So utility companies had to wait days for extra crews traveling from as far away as Quebec and Oklahoma. And workers found that the toppled trees and power lines often entangled broken equipment in debris that had to be removed before workers could even get started. |
| Adding to the urgency of the repairs are the sick and elderly, who are especially vulnerable without air conditioning in the sweltering triple-digit heat. Many sought refuge in hotels or basements. | Adding to the urgency of the repairs are the sick and elderly, who are especially vulnerable without air conditioning in the sweltering triple-digit heat. Many sought refuge in hotels or basements. |
| Officials feared the death toll, already at 22, could climb because of the heat and widespread use of generators, which emit fumes that can be dangerous in enclosed spaces | Officials feared the death toll, already at 22, could climb because of the heat and widespread use of generators, which emit fumes that can be dangerous in enclosed spaces |
| Emergencies were declared in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington DC. | Emergencies were declared in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington DC. |
| About 93,000 Commonwealth Edison customers in northeastern Illinois of were without power from the storms that brought wind gusts of up to 90 miles per hour. | About 93,000 Commonwealth Edison customers in northeastern Illinois of were without power from the storms that brought wind gusts of up to 90 miles per hour. |
| Utilities in Ohio, Virginia and Maryland described damage to their power grids as catastrophic. FirstEnergy utilities in states from Ohio to West Virginia had about 194,400 customers without power. | Utilities in Ohio, Virginia and Maryland described damage to their power grids as catastrophic. FirstEnergy utilities in states from Ohio to West Virginia had about 194,400 customers without power. |
| Pepco, which serves Washington and much of its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, reported about 201,900 customers without power. | Pepco, which serves Washington and much of its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, reported about 201,900 customers without power. |
| Baltimore Gas & Electric said about 213,000 customers remained affected. Almost 1,200 utility workers from 12 states and Canada are helping restore power or are on their way to central Maryland, the company said. | Baltimore Gas & Electric said about 213,000 customers remained affected. Almost 1,200 utility workers from 12 states and Canada are helping restore power or are on their way to central Maryland, the company said. |
| Storms killed six people in Virginia and left more than 1 million customers without power. Two people were killed in Maryland, officials said. | Storms killed six people in Virginia and left more than 1 million customers without power. Two people were killed in Maryland, officials said. |
| A falling tree killed two cousins, aged 2 and 7, in New Jersey. Heat was blamed for the deaths of two brothers, ages 3 and 5, in Tennessee who had been playing outside in temperatures reaching 105 F (41 C). | A falling tree killed two cousins, aged 2 and 7, in New Jersey. Heat was blamed for the deaths of two brothers, ages 3 and 5, in Tennessee who had been playing outside in temperatures reaching 105 F (41 C). |
| St Louis reported three heat-related deaths over the weekend. All were elderly and had air conditioners not in use. | St Louis reported three heat-related deaths over the weekend. All were elderly and had air conditioners not in use. |
| Meanwhile, soybean and corn crops in the US mid-west are expected to get hit hard by the unrelenting heat and dryness. Corn, which is entering its critical pollination or reproductive stage of development, is seen as especially vulnerable. | Meanwhile, soybean and corn crops in the US mid-west are expected to get hit hard by the unrelenting heat and dryness. Corn, which is entering its critical pollination or reproductive stage of development, is seen as especially vulnerable. |
| "We're still looking at a scenario providing below-average rainfall for at least the next 10 days," said agricultural meteorologist John Dee of Global Weather Monitoring. | "We're still looking at a scenario providing below-average rainfall for at least the next 10 days," said agricultural meteorologist John Dee of Global Weather Monitoring. |
| The US government has told federal workers in the Washington area they could take unscheduled leave or work from home on Monday and Tuesday. | The US government has told federal workers in the Washington area they could take unscheduled leave or work from home on Monday and Tuesday. |
| Two of the largest property insurers, USAA and Nationwide, said they had received more than 12,000 claims in total from the weekend storms. Most were for house damage. | Two of the largest property insurers, USAA and Nationwide, said they had received more than 12,000 claims in total from the weekend storms. Most were for house damage. |
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