Snow began falling in the Milford area around noon on Sunday, February 23, continuing throughout the day. As the storm intensified, strong winds also began to blow. The winds, combined with a heavy, wet snow caused tree branches and power lines to fall, leading to significant power outages in the area.
Around 8 AM on Monday, Delaware Electric Cooperative reported just under 900 customers were without power while Delmarva Power only reported about 50 customers without power.
“As of 4:30AM we have approximately 3,127 customers without power but by 9 AM, that number had dropped to around 500,” Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Lauren Swain said. “Crews are actively working to identify outages and make repairs as quickly and safely as possible. Restoring service is our top priority. We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding as we work to restore power to all affected areas.”
Governor Matt Meyer declared a State of Emergency on Sunday, directing state agencies to activate every available resource and respond swiftly to changing conditions. Starting at 10 PM Sunday evening, Meyer issued a Level 3 Driving Ban for Kent and Sussex Counties.
“A level three driving ban means no person shall operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for those persons designated as first responders, first informers and essential personnel, including a “public utility,” operators of snow removal equipment employed or contracted by a public or private entity,” a release from the state read. “All businesses, professional offices, organizations, entities, etc. shall be encouraged to take appropriate protective actions to protect their citizens, customers and employees by termination of operations or shelter in place. An employer of a public or private entity shall not terminate, reprimand, discipline or in any way commit any adverse action against an employee, who, as a result of the activation of a Level 3 Driving Ban, fails or refuses to report to work during the driving ban. Any person or entity in violation of an activated level 3 driving ban may be penalized.”
Code Purple shelters are open for those who do not have adequate housing. Men are welcome at Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 Church Street, Milford. Women are welcome at the Church of the Nazarene, 11 Salevan Place, Milford.
The area remains under a blizzard warning until 6 PM Monday. Throughout the day on Monday, snow is predicted to continue with sustained winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour. Higher gusts are possible, according to the National Weather Service. This could lead to additional power outages as winds and heavy snow could cause tree branches to break. If the limbs break and fall on power lines, outages will occur.
The City of Milford is aware of outages and crews are out trying to restore power. They request that residents do not call in outages in order to keep lines open for emergencies. Those who require electric for medical devices should contact their medical provider for advice on what to do. The City of Milford asks that anyone who has a medical necessity for electric or water services to register with the city. If a power outage is causing medical distress, call 911 to receive immediate medical attention.
