Ice storm warning in effect through noon Monday, Dec. 23

UPDATE: Winter/ice storm settling in over Maine

Sun, 12/22/2013 - 10:00am

Holly S. Edwards

Ice on a fire bush. (Photo by Charlie Gale)

Approximately 1/4-inch of ice covers the trees on Chestnut Street in Camden, located just one block up from Camden Harbor. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Charlie Gale)

Ice on a fire bush. (Photo by Charlie Gale)

Approximately 1/4-inch of ice covers the trees on Chestnut Street in Camden, located just one block up from Camden Harbor. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Charlie Gale)

CAMDEN — The southeast half of the state remains under an ice storm warning Sunday morning, with Mainers waking up to ice covered decks, porches, sidewalks and driveways.

Road crews had been out earlier, sanding and “salting” the roads, which are mostly clear, though slick spots may linger and return throughout the day into Monday.

The National Weather Service’s ice storm warning remains in effect through Monday, Dec. 23, at noon. Ice accumulations up to 1/2-inch are predicted, with freezing rain mixing with sleet and snow Sunday morning. Freezing rain will continue on and off through Sunday night into Monday morning.

Tree limbs already have approximately 1/4-inch of ice coating them, and the sound is like a crackling sound when the breeze causes the branches to move, hitting each other and cracking the ice coating.

So far, this ice storm is nothing like the ice storm of 1998, which causes widespread power outages and down limbs and whole trees.

Central Maine Power is not reporting any power outages in Knox County as of 10 a.m. Sunday, and only a dozen customers in Waldo County are without power this morning. CMP is reporting its greatest outage area is in Hancock County, where 1,532 of its 5,986 customers there are currently without power. The second largest affected county is York, where 332 of CMP’s total 115,068 customers there are without power Sunday morning.

Local and state Emergency Management Agency and utility officials urge the public to treat all downed lines as live, and to report such incidents by calling 911. Power outages can be reported by calling 1-800-696-1000. For those without power who still have access to the Internet, outage reports for CMP customers can be made online here.

The most dangerous hazard during power outages is improper use of generators, according to the National Weather Service.

Portable generators must be run outside, at least 15-feet from windows or doors, to avoid life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning. CO gas can be deadly if it builds up inside a home, garage or basement. Make sure to have CO detector with a battery back-up where people sleep, and check detector batteries often.

Those who lose power are also reminded not to use grills or camp stoves indoors due to the potential for CO gas buildup.

Signs of CO poisoning are headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Breathing CO gas can cause loss of consciousness and death. If you or a family member suspect CO poisoning, get out of the house and call 911 immediately.

For more information on storm safety, see this story for links:

• UPDATED: Ice storm warning - Freezing rain on snow, make way for a big mess

The following update is from a 12:33 p.m. Maine.gov news service email:

The State Emergency Operations Center is activated in response to a major winter storm targeting Maine.

Situation:
A major winter storm is affecting the entire State of Maine. Warnings /Advisories in place:
• Freezing Rain Advisory (1/4 inch of ice): York County.
• Winter Storm Warning: Significant snowfall, with some sleet and freezing rain: Aroostook, Northern Oxford, Franklin, Penobscot, Central and Northern Somerset and Piscataquis counties.
• Ice Storm Warning: One half inch or more of freezing rain: Remainder of the state.

National Weather Service indicates that freezing rain and drizzle will continue into Monday in many areas, causing locally dangerous conditions. Because of the long duration, both NWS forecast offices are still forecasting a total of one half to three-quarters of an inch of ice in the warning areas, with local amounts of an inch possible. All parties should continue to monitor local weather forecasts.

Outage reports:
Power outage numbers are fluctuating as restoration takes place and new outages are reported.
• Bangor Hydro/Maine Public Service as of 11:30 am reported approximately 14,000 accounts out, most in Hancock and Washington counties (http://bhe.com/about-us/outages-and-restorations.aspx)
• Central Maine Power as of 11:30 am, approximately 4,000 out (http://www.cmpco.com/Outages/outageinformation.html)
• Eastern Maine Electric as of 11:30 reported approximately 500 accounts out of power.

Injuries/Fatalities:
• None reported.

Other impacts/responses:
• The State Emergency Operations Center was activated at 8 a.m. at Level 2 status (MEMA staff plus Dept. of Agrculture, Conservation and Forestry, Dept. of Transportation, Dept. of Public Safety/Maine State Police, Public Utilities Commission and American Red Cross).
• Warming center open at 31 Turkey Lane in Buxton; however has no occupants presently and therefore may close this afternoon
• The American Red Cross is standing by to staff shelters as the need warrants: no Red Cross shelters are open at this time

Declarations:
• Gov. Paul LePage declared a State of Emergency Dec. 21, to ensure that all state resources would be available to assist affected communities.

Critical Safety messages:
• After ensuring that your family is safe, check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance. Neighbors helping neighbors save lives. Share safety information with those who might not have received it.
• Ice on roadways and falling trees and power lines will make travel dangerous or impossible.
• Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep emergency supplies in your car such as flashlight, food and water. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles, including plow trucks. "Please don't crowd the plow."
• All the utilities are reminding the public that no fallen power line is safe to touch. If you find a downed power line, call your electric utility immediately.
• Death can result from improper use of generators. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, use generators outside only, at least 15 feet away from doors and windows. Have a carbon monoxide detector with battery back-up where people sleep. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, nausea, vomiting or dizziness. Get out of the house and call 911 at once.

For more help and information:
• Life or safety-threatening emergency: Call 911
• Power outage or downed power line: Call your electric utility
- Central Maine Power: 1-800-696-1000
- Bangor Hydro/Maine Public Service: 1-800-440-1111 (Central and Downeast Maine) and 877-655-4448 (Northern Maine)
- Eastern Maine Electric: (207) 454-7555 Ext. 250, (800) 696-7444 Ext. 250
• For shelter locations or other health and safety resources: Dial 211 (toll free) or http://www.211maine.org
• Maine Prepares: http://www.maineprepares.com
• Maine Emergency Management Agency: http://www.maine.gov/mema
• National Weather Service Gray: http://www.weather.gov/gray
• NWS-Gray on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Gray.gov
• National Weather Service Caribou: http://www.weather.gov/caribou
• NW-Caribou on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Caribou.gov
• Maine DOT Travel Information: 511maine.gov or dial 5-1-1 (toll-free)
• MEMA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MaineEMA
• MEMA on Twitter: @MaineEMA (twitter.com/MaineEMA)