U.S. ice storms kill 55, leave 300,000 in darkness

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U.S. ice storms kill 55, leave 300,000 in darkness
2007-01-17,
USA

Ice storms are battering nine U.S. states and the death toll has risen to 55, CNN reported Wednesday.

Since last Friday, waves of freezing rain, sleet and snow have so far caused at least 20 deaths in Oklahoma, nine in Missouri, eight in Iowa, five in Texas, four each in New York and Michigan, three in Arkansas, and one each in Maine and Indiana, according tothe report. More than 300,000 homes and businesses in several states were left without power. In the hardest-hit Oklahoma and Missouri, the extreme weather downed trees, traffic lights and power lines and blocked roads. U.S. President George W. Bush has issued disaster declarations for Oklahoma so it can receive federal assistance. In Missouri, 85 shelters were opened to accommodate over 3,600 homeless people. Ice storms occur when rain falls during very low temperatures, causing it to freeze almost instantly as it hits a surface, resulting in thick ice layers. The storms had largely blown out of New England by Tuesday, butweather forecasters expected more freezing rain to hit parts of Texas on Wednesday night. Gusty winds are forecast to arrive the Northeast, bring bone-chilling through Wednesday night before it's getting warm Thursday.