Downed Wires, Power Outages and Snow Greet Delmarva Monday Morning

Georgetown just after power was restored at 5:30am

The snow is still falling and plows are out throughout Delmarva working to clear it from the roads. Sussex and Kent Counties are in a Level 3 driving ban. That means that only persons designated as first responders, first informers, and essential personnel, including a “public utility”, operators of snow removal equipment employed or contracted by a public or private entity should be on roads. All businesses, professional offices, organizations, entities, etc. shall be encouraged to take appropriate protective actions to protect their citizens, customers, and employees by termination of operations or shelter in place. An employer of a public or private entity shall not terminate, reprimand, discipline, or in any way commit any adverse employment action against as employee who, as a result of the activation of a Level 3 Driving Ban, fails or refuses to report to work during the pendency of the driving ban. Any person or entity in violation of an activated Level 3 Driving Ban may be penalized.

Delmarva Power is reporting over 37,000 customers without power and crews have been out all night working to restore power.

Delaware Electric Cooperative has over 51,000 members without power and officials at the Coop say this storm may be worse than 2010. Just after midnight the Coop suspended most restoration work because conditions were extremely dangerous, but at 5:30 this morning they are beginning to assess damage and start the slow process to restore power. On their Facebook page the Coop says there are countless trees, power lines and utility poles down across their service area and many back roads are not accessible to their trucks and conditions are still dangerous.

Choptank Electric Cooperative reports just under 17,000 members without power throughout the Upper, Mid and Lower Shore region. Crews are out working to get the lights back on.

Fire and utility crews responded to hundreds of calls beginning around 9 Sunday night for wires down – many because of branches and trees and the very heavy and blowing snow.  Because of this many roads are closed or impassible – and calls for downed wires continue this morning.