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Powerful winter storm cuts power, disrupts travel
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-20 11:18

In the Northeast, hard hit by last week's ice storm, snowfall totals of up to 15 inches were forecast. Biting, wind-whipped snow began late morning in White Plains, NY.


Suzanne MacPherson, of Glasgow, Scotland, sits on the floor watching snow removal equipment at work, as she waits for her delayed flight, at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, December 19, 2008.[Agencies] 

"I thought I had enough on," said Gloria D'Arce, 29, as she tried to keep out of the wind while waiting for a light to change. "But this is coming sideways, right in my face. I'm, like, two blocks from my car and I feel like I'm not going to make it."

The evening rush-hour jam began a few hours early in Rochester, NY, where 6 inches of snow had already fallen by midafternoon.

Fearing afternoon traffic jams, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick asked nonessential state employees Friday morning to stay home. But in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg sounded more concerned about the economy than the weather.

"There's really no reason to stay indoors today," he said. "Go to work, get in the last-minute holiday shopping, the stores need the business, and you need to buy things and an awful lot of things are on sale."

In New Hampshire, several thousand homes and businesses were still in the dark more than a week after last week's storm. As authorities prepared for the new storm, Gov. John Lynch said the state hoped to get utilities to improve their communication with customers in the future.