Storm leaves 1M in East without power
BOSTON — From Virginia to Massachusetts, about 1 million people remained without power Sunday, two days after a destructive nor’easter, leaving some unsure when they could return home and schools unsure if they would open Monday.
The storm was blamed for nine deaths, including two children struck by trees. But many communities faced major challenges restoring power and cleaning up debris.
In Scituate, Mass., a coastal town near Boston, construction vehicles worked to clear away several feet of sand that covered roads near Peggotty Beach. Town officials planned to deploy a drone to help assess damage.
Massachusetts GOP Gov. Charlie Baker inspected storm damage in other battered coastal communities. While perched on a sea wall in Gloucester — something officials have urged people not to do — Baker got soaked by a strong wave, WBZ-AM reported.
“People should not stand on sea walls, correct?” Baker said sheepishly. “However, I did want to get a look at what things were like on the other side, which I did get a look at before I got hit by the wave.”
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 180,000 people remained without power in Massachusetts. More than 230,000 were powerless in Pennsylvania, and largescale outages also continued in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.
In New Jersey, officials said some areas might not have their electricity restored until Tuesday or Wednesday.
New Hampshire was spared extensive power outages, but its short stretch of coastline was littered with debris.
In North Carolina, Highway 12 was closed in both directions along a section on Hatteras Island.