Federal government closed a second day; regional death toll climbs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Federal government offices and most schools in Washington, D.C., were closed a second day Tuesday as efforts continued to clear streets clogged with snow following the recent snowstorm.

Major highways around the capital have reopened after the weekend's historic snowstorm. Efforts to clear secondary roads began Monday and it may take days for some residential streets to be dug out.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority planned to resume full rail services on all lines except the Silver Line at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, adding that bus service would be expanded but still limited.

Local authorities urged drivers to avoid unnecessary trips to avoid dangers and to allow snow plowing to continue. Although most U.S. post offices reopened in the D.C. region, deliveries have been hampered because mail carriers could often not reach homes and businesses.

At least 37 people have died as a result of the snowstorm, many due to car collisions, carbon monoxide poisoning and heart attacks triggered by shoveling snow. CNN reported 10 people died in New York, six in North Carolina, six in Virginia, four in South Carolina, three in Pennsylvania, three in New Jersey and one each in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Delaware and Washington.

In Mahwah, N.J., a group of middle school students on Monday discovered the body of Mary Wall, 64, under a foot a half of snow in front of her car with a shovel in her hand.

"Her jacket was white, I remember ... and my neighbor moved snow over, and it was her hand," Amanda Sands, 13, told NBC News.

Amanda left to get her mother.

"I was like, 'Oh, my God, Mom, I think we found a dead lady in her yard,'" Amanda said.