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Nor'easter slams Cape Region with high winds, flooding

More than 1,000 Delmarva Power customers report outages
March 6, 2013

Coastal flooding and high winds are forecast in the Cape Region for the next 24 hours or more.

“We’ve seen tides go up considerably, and we’ve recorded wind gusts of 67 mph,” said Mitchell Gaines, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Mt. Holly, N.J.

Gaines said high tide in the area would be at 3:55 p.m., March 6, and at 4:34 a.m., Thursday, March 7. The first high tide March 7 is forecast to be 8 feet, and the second 7.5 feet, he said. “There is a coastal flood warning for the Delaware shore,” Gaines said in an interview around 2:15 p.m., March 6.

He said rainfall would continue to be widespread, and as temperatures begin dipping into the mid-30s, there’s a possibility a few inches of snow could accumulate. By 4:30 p.m. March 6, snow was falling in Milford.

“It’s not going to be a pleasant night,” he said. Gaines recommended taking extra caution outdoors and allowing extra time when driving.

As of 2:30 p.m., Sussex County 911 center reported 20 calls for wires down/arcing, 6 calls for vehicle accidents, and 11 calls for trees down.

Delaware Electric Cooperative crews were working to restore power to about 1,600 Long Neck residents at 4 p.m. Most of the power outages are due to fallen trees, reported coop spokesman Jeremy Tucker.

Delmarva Power spokesman Matt Likovich said crews are restoring power throughout Sussex County, and by 5 p.m., just under Sussex 2,000 customers were without power. He also said trees falling on power lines and snapped poles were the cause of most outages.

Delmarva Power customers who wish to report an outage should call

1 800 898-8045.

Officials said crews from both companies are working into the night to restore power.

To monitor Delaware Electric Co-op power outages in the area, go to www.delaware.coop/my-services/outage-map.

For Delmarva Power outages, go to www.delmarva.com/home/emergency/maps/stormcenter/.

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