Days long outages expected as ice storm blacks out northeastern U.S.

"This is a very, very serious situation right now," New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said after declaring an emergency in his state, "I don't think anyone anticipated it would be as bad as it is."

In the far northeastern state of Maine, nearly 172,000 customers were without power Saturday, a spokesman told AFP, as utility trucks worked to restore power.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci shut government offices in the state, citing weather and power outages. "If you have neighbors who are vulnerable or who could be at risk, check on them," he told residents in a televised news conference.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick also declared a state of emergency to mobilize the National Guard "and conduct other emergency business to assist local communities is their response to and recovery from ... this winter storm," his office said.

As many as 350,000 households were left without power in Massachusetts late Friday after the storm, which combined rain and freezing spells.

"The whole northeast of the United States is suffering," said Jeff Tilghman at Northeast Utilities, a power company serving the region.

"The rain and the ice caused the problem. Ice is problematic because it stays on the branches and they come down breaking the power lines."

More rain or snow was forecast for isolated areas of central New York state and northeastern Maine Saturday while the rest of the region was expected to remain dry but bitter cold, the National Weather Service said.

New York state, which extends far north and west of the city of New York, also saw 300,000 households and businesses left without power, the state emergency management office said

"Mother Nature dealt New York State a crippling blow yesterday and overnight," said Governor David Paterson.

In Connecticut, 16,700 customers were left without power but that was reduced to 3,700 midday Saturday, Connecticut Light and Power reported on its website.

Thousands were also out of power in the northern tip of Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania.

Emergency officials warned residents to keep away from potentially lethal fallen power lines and advised against using candles at home because of the added fire hazard.