Claims News Service, Dec. 16, 3:13 p.m. EST -- The recent winter storms that swept through northeastern regions of the United States forced several states to declare emergencies. On December 11, a major storm brought heavy rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow to parts of New England, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and New York.

New York Governor David Paterson declared a state of emergency to the state's 16 counties most noticeably affected by the storm. The system, which peaked on Friday, December 12, subsided on December 14. The resultant ice accumulations coated trees, causing branches to topple over and snap power lines across the region. In fact, 1-inch accumulations were reported in the western and central parts of Massachusetts. The fallen trees and power lines left approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses across seven states without power and have disrupted the lives of many more.

Temporary shelters have been established across swaths of the region to help those affected, and utility companies are scrambling to restore power. At press time, officials said that it may take several days to fully restore power to affected parties. Amid the efforts, potential for more damage looms, says Risk Management Solutions (RMS). As ice continues to melt on power lines, branches once weighed down with ice can spring back and come into contact with power lines. This factor makes it difficult to accurately predict restoration rates. While there are limited reports of property damage at this stage, there are indications of damage -- particularly from pipes that have burst. This could worsen the longer the power outages last. According to reports, at least four people have perished as a result of the storms.

No preliminary loss figures have yet been issued.

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