October Snow Storm 2011: At Least 22 People Dead as Result of Freak Storm
The freak October snow storm that hit the Northeast United States over the past weekend killed at least 22 people, officials said Thursday.
As some cases are still under investigation, so far officials have discovered six snow storm-related deaths in Massachusetts, with one more being investigated, CNN reported Friday. Four of the deaths were reportedly linked to carbon monoxide poisoning, one to electrocution caused by a fallen power line and one to a house fire blamed on the storm.
In Connecticut, a state that was hit very hard, eight people were killed – four of them by carbon monoxide poisonings, CNN reported. Shelters and warming centers were opened throughout the state.
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In New Jersey, eight deaths were blamed on the blizzard. A ninth death was under investigation.
Some 30 inches of heavy, wet snow fell on the Northeastern United States during the storm, breaking trees and damaging power lines. Some 2.7 million people were left without power, as CP reported earlier this week.
By Thursday afternoon, power had been restored to slightly more than half of the affected customers, according to CNN. The network reported that authorities expect power to be restored fully by Monday morning.
More than half a million homes and businesses in the Northeast were still without power late Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
President Barack Obama has signed emergency declarations for New Hampshire and Connecticut, clearing the way for federal aid to support the local and state efforts to restore order.
Hundreds of schools remained closed through Monday, and some were still closed Tuesday.
