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Storm Leaves 1.4M Without Power; 23 Dead

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 28, 2009 7:57 PM CST

(AP) – More than a million people shivered in ice-bound homes across the country tonight, waiting for utility crews to restring power lines brought down by a storm that killed 23 as it moved from the Southern Plains to the East Coast. But with temperatures plunging, utility officials warned that it could be mid-February before electricity is restored to some of the hardest-hit places of Kentucky, Arkansas, and Ohio.

In Kentucky, National Guard soldiers were dispatched to remove downed tree limbs and power lines. Oklahoma, already struggling to restore power there, planned to send crews to help in Arkansas later in the week. The number of homes and businesses without power totaled around 1.4 million this evening, in a swath of states from Oklahoma to West Virginia.
 

A yard is covered with branches in Paragould, Ark., January 28, 2009.
A yard is covered with branches in Paragould, Ark., January 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Tim Rand)
People look at storm damage caused by ice and wintry weather on Wed., Jan. 28, 2009, in Fayetteville, Ark.
People look at storm damage caused by ice and wintry weather on Wed., Jan. 28, 2009, in Fayetteville, Ark.   (AP Photo/Beth Hal)
A red ribbon marks a downed powerline on a city street in the historic district of Fayetteville, Ark., Wednesday.
A red ribbon marks a downed powerline on a city street in the historic district of Fayetteville, Ark., Wednesday.   (AP Photo/April L. Brown)
Bethany Senkus, left, clears snow from her car with neighbor Wendy Stupka along Clifton Blvd. in Lakewood, Ohio Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.
Bethany Senkus, left, clears snow from her car with neighbor Wendy Stupka along Clifton Blvd. in Lakewood, Ohio Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
An Olmsted Township police officer waits near a car in a ditch along Sprague Rd. in Olmsted Township, Ohio Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.
An Olmsted Township police officer waits near a car in a ditch along Sprague Rd. in Olmsted Township, Ohio Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
A grey squirrel sits atop a feeding station and munches on an ear of feed corn as the snow falls around him in Moreland Hills, Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.
A grey squirrel sits atop a feeding station and munches on an ear of feed corn as the snow falls around him in Moreland Hills, Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
A red Robin lands on a tree branch along Wentworth Avenue in Clifton, Ohio on Wednesday.
A red Robin lands on a tree branch along Wentworth Avenue in Clifton, Ohio on Wednesday.   (AP Photo)
Ice-damaged trees stand on the front lawn of Old Main on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Ark.
Ice-damaged trees stand on the front lawn of Old Main on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Ark.   (AP Photo/April L. Brown)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
maevealleine
Jan 29, 2009 5:06 AM CST
well, that would make sense. we can't have that here.
Guest
Jan 29, 2009 3:48 AM CST
Just out of curiosity, in those areas where geothermal power is available, how many houses would be without power if they'd had a geothermal system in place, re: most of Iceland?

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