Icy storm rolls through Eastern seaboard

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- An icy winter storm rolled through the eastern United States on Wednesday and Thursday, causing two deaths, leaving more than 1 million people without power, and closing schools in at least a half-dozen states.

"We've had two fatalities in the storm, both from vehicular accidents," said Kenneth Taylor of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley issued a statement urging residents in the western part of the state to stay home.

"The best thing for people to do is stay inside, off the roads and out of harm's way," Easley said. "I encourage everyone to put safety first."

The National Weather Service said it expected to lift all severe weather warnings by the end of the day, and most of the weather that hit Wednesday would be gone by noon.

Duke Power officials said it was the worst ice storm to hit the Carolinas as they struggled to restore power. E.O. Ferrell, Duke senior vice president, said accumulation of ice on trees and power lines have hit customers from Anderson, S.C., to Durham, N.C.

In Washington, 1-3 inches of snow failed to halt the capital. Buses were late, but running. Trains were running, but crowded. At the Dupont Circle Metro stop, passengers reported delays due to a power outage at around 11 a.m. Pepco said about 1,800 customers in that area were without power after an underground fire burned cables in one of the utility's manholes. Power was restored 2 1/2 hours later, Pepco spokesman David Morehead told United Press International. The utility serves the District and part of suburban Maryland.

Schools were closed throughout the South in the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee and further north as the storm moved along. In Maryland and Virginia, schools were closed.

In the District, schools initially were to open for classes, but Superintendent of Schools Paul Vance said that after he went outside and evaluated the situation, he changed his mind and closed the schools.

Any students already in school, especially pre-school programs which start early, would be supervised by staff, except for high school students, who would be sent home.

Most federal, state and local government offices were open, but with liberal leave policies in effect. Many courts were closed.

As the storm moved northeast, Pennsylvania and New Jersey closed many of its schools, even before the storm arrived.

The ice storm turned into a snowstorm as it moved north, reaching as far as New York City. Virginia was particularly hard hit by snow -- as much as 10 inches was expected. Southern Maryland also received snow.

"If at all possible, stay at home an extra couple of hours or work from the house," said Jim Jennings of the Virginia Department of Transportation, which was in charge of snow removal. "It allows us to get out there and do our job."

Temperatures in Georgia stayed above freezing for the most part, sparing that state from snow and ice. But a miserable cold rain fell in much of the northern regions.

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(With reporting by Carolyn Ayon Lee in Washington.)