600,000 Southerners Without Power
Southerners enjoyed an unusual gift for Christmas Day_Snow

Matt Kohlman, Writer, Associated Press Online, December 25, 1998

But it came with a price, as hundreds of thousands were without electricity.

The freezing rain, sleet and snow that crippled the region Christmas Eve left thousands of utility workers spending their holiday trying to restore power lines.

"Mother nature does not really pay attention to the calendars and programmed holidays," said Bob Cayler, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Power was restored to 60,000 Tennessee homes and businesses Friday evening, though some new reports of blackout were reported.

In Virginia, at least 244,000 customers were without electricity at one point, 156,000 in Mississippi, 93,000 in Louisiana, 106,000 in North Carolina.

Much of the service was expected to be restored by nightfall, but it could take days to reconnect power to everyone. While freezing rain was not in the forecast, the South _ and most of the nation _ is expected to continue under a cold snap already blamed for at least 30 deaths.

Shelters opened across the South. About 200 people slept the night before Christmas in one Raleigh shelter.

People tried to make the most of the sudden entrance of winter despite the hardship.

In Indianola, Miss., John Weathersby lost power at home, went to his Chevrolet dealership, "started a big ol' fire on his wood stove" and played host to about 20 other people.

"We have got a big ol' pot of chicken soup, some hot coffee, and we are just sitting in these rockin' chairs, watching the traffic go by," he said.

Fresh from opening his gifts, Steward Rush, 14, of Greensboro, N.C., planned to take a more active role in the snow. "You can go sledding _ that's awesome," he said.

"It's neat. It's about time North Carolina had snow for Christmas and ice and _ Santa Claus weather," said Carrie Mosteller, 50, of Greensboro who could not make it to see her parents in Charlotte.

Buffalo, N.Y. got more than half a foot of snow on Friday, giving residents a white Christmas like they're accustomed to.

In the South, sunny skies had melted many roads by the afternoon, but some remained closed and icy patches littered the highways. Slick roads were blamed on many deaths in recent days, including six in Alabama, six in Virginia and two in South Carolina. Many airports also suffered delays or cancellations.

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