Powerful storm bears down on East Coast

David Morgan
WASHINGTON
Fri Feb 5, 2010

Reuters - A powerful winter storm closed in on the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Friday, threatening record snowfalls and unseasonably cold temperatures in a region heavily dependent on home heating oil and natural gas supplies.

Forecasts calling for around 2 feet of snow and near-blizzard conditions from Virginia to southern New Jersey prompted U.S. government offices in the Washington area to close their doors four hours early.

Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia each declared snow emergencies. The declarations allow states to activate emergency agencies including the National Guard to help prepare for the wintry onslaught and cope with its aftermath. the rest