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Northeast US pounded by snowy late-winter storm
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-02 22:41

Philadelphia declared a Code Blue weather emergency, which gives officials the power to go out onto the streets and bring in homeless people to shelters because the weather conditions pose a threat of serious harm or death.

Workers from the Times Square Alliance shovel the sidewalk after a snowstorm blanketed the eastern United States with as much as a foot of snow, in New York March 2, 2009. [Agencies]

New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine said the storm could cost the state anywhere from about $2.5 million to $7 million, depending on its severity. So far, New Jersey has spent about $22 million on this winter's "frequent snow events," an amount that's about twice as much as what was budgeted for this year.

Those who had to be on the road Monday were told to allow extra travel time because streets were expected to be slick and slippery and visibilities were likely to be limited.

All New Jersey state offices will hold a two-hour delayed opening on Monday and the state Senate canceled all its scheduled committee meetings. Connecticut state employees were also given an extra 2 hours to get to work on storm-slick roads. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford delayed the opening of state offices in 28 counties in the central and northern parts of the state.

Dozens of schools across North Carolina, South Carolina and New Jersey also gave children a snow day. Public schools in Philadelphia, New York City and Boston did the same.

New York City had 1,300 sanitation workers spreading salt and plowing streets Sunday night, and more than 2,500 were to be on duty on Monday, Bloomberg said. More than 100,000 tons of salt will be on hand.

It was likely to be the largest storm of the year, said city Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty, who warned that commuters should plan for complications.