Reuters AlertNet Lite - Freak snow storm hits Maine, triggers emergency

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Freak snow storm hits Maine, triggers emergency

05 Apr 2007 20:30:16 GMT
Source: Reuters

BOSTON, April 5 (Reuters) - A freak spring storm blanketed parts of Maine in nearly a foot (30 cm) of snow on Thursday, snarling traffic and forcing the governor to declare an emergency after at least 275,000 homes and businesses lost power.

Gov. Jim Baldacci's emergency declaration allows Maine to seek help from utility crews in neighboring states and Canadian provinces to restore power.

"If there are people who are vulnerable or who could be at risk, please let them know that there are warming stations and shelter availability," Baldacci said in a statement.

The city of Portland received 11.6 inches (29.5 cm), making the snow storm the ninth-biggest on record for April, said Art Lester of the National Weather Service's bureau in Maine.

"It's unusual but not unprecedented," he said. "April is a month when we do expect to get some snow. Sometimes we get a bomb like this."

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Last updated:Thu Apr 5 20:31:30 2007