Christmas is in jeopardy for some New Englanders after storms and flooding knocked out power

By PATRICK WHITTLE, LISA RATHKE and MICHAEL CASEY
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The arrival of a heavy storm, flooding and power outages just before Christmas is complicating, and in some cases threatening to cancel, holiday plans for many New Englanders. The aftermath of the pre-Christmas storm has left hundreds of thousands in the dark, closed ski resorts, washed out roads, closed bridges and caused families to throw away holiday food. It’s unclear when everyone will have power back, but officials and utilities in Maine have said some will have to wait until the holiday. People across the northeastern U.S. were still mopping up after the storm brought torrential rains and damaging wind.