Ice storm cuts off power to hundreds of thousands

[December 12, 2008]  (AP)  An ice storm has knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in New England and upstate New York, and authorities say it could take days for all of them to get service back.

Jim Van Dongen at New Hampshire's Department of Emergency Management says, "It's a mess."

The storm brought rain, sleet and snow through the night and was continuing Friday morning in some areas.

Public Service Company of New Hampshire says 230,000 homes and businesses were without power.

In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick has declared a statewide state of emergency. The utility company National Grid reports about 100,000 customers without power there.

Around Albany, N.Y., National Grid reported more than 140,000 customers without power.

[Associated Press]

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