Thousands in shelters after US ice storm outages; 35 dead

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Utility crews made some progress Friday in restoring power to the more than 1.3 million homes and businesses darkened by an ice storm that crippled states from Missouri to West Virginia, but thousands were still holed up in makeshift shelters because their homes had no water or heat. Since the storm began Monday, the weather has been blamed for at least 35 deaths. Emergency officials feared that toll could rise if people stay in their homes without power for too long, because improper use of generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Utility companies struggled through ice-encrusted debris into Friday morning as they worked to restore power, but warned it may not return until Saturday at the earliest. It could take until mid-February for some to come back online in the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky and Arkansas.