Violent Mid-Atlantic storms

AP Photo/The News & Advance, Parker Michels-Boyce

A car sits, crushed by a fallen tree, on Carrington Road in Lynchburg, Va., July 1, 2012. Two days after storms tore across the eastern U.S., power outages were forcing people to get creative to stay cool in dangerously hot weather. Temperatures approached 100 degrees in many storm-stricken areas, and utility officials said the power will likely be out for several more days.

AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Ben Fogletto

Downed and leaning powerlines on the water works access road across from the Delilah Road ramp connecting to Route 30 eastbound to Atlantic City, N.J., Sunday, July 1 2012. Cleanup continues after the severe weekend thunderstorms that damaged the area.

Hopefully it's an insurance check: Giovanny Alvarez, a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, delivers mail Monday, July 2, 2012, to a residence in Washington that was damaged by the powerful storm that swept through the region Friday.

A Lynchburg City, Va., worker ties power lines above a traffic signal at Oakley and Memorial Avenues, July 1, 2012. Two days after storms tore across the eastern U.S., power outages were forcing people to get creative to stay cool in dangerously hot weather. Temperatures approached 100 degrees in many storm-stricken areas, and utility officials said the power will likely be out for several more days.

A utility pole is cracked in half by a downed tree on a residential street in Arlington, Va., Sunday, July 1, 2012. Severe storms swept through the area leaving many homes and businesses without electricity.

A car is covered by a downed tree on a residential street in Arlington, Va., Sunday, July 1, 2012. Severe storms swept through the area leaving many homes and businesses without electricity.

The fast-moving line of dangerous storms left at least a dozen people dead in the Mid-Atlantic States and knocked out power to more than 5 million customers - including 1.5 million in the Washington metropolitan area - according to media reports. The storms produced hurricane-force winds in excess of 80 mph.

The turret from the bell tower of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church lies atop the roof of the church Sunday, July 1, 2012, in Kensington, Md. The church was damaged from the powerful storm that swept across the region late Friday.

Tyler Taylor, 14, of Falls Church, Va., walks across a large downed tree in Falls Church, Va., Sunday, July 1, 2012. A severe storm late Friday knocked out power to approximately one million residents, traffic signals and businesses in the region.

Power lines are still down July 1, 2012 in Huntingtown, Md., after a massive storm that swept through the region Friday night. Although Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is working on repairing systems in southern Maryland, there are still almost a million people in the greater Washington, D.C. area without power.

An owner left a note on his truck after it was damaged by a downed tree during a powerful overnight storm in the Washington, D.C. region June 30, 2012 in Falls Church, Va. The storm has left more than a million people in the greater Washington, D.C. area without power.

A Pepco employee works to stabilize damaged power lines July 1, 2012 in Bethesda, Md. Although crews are at work repairing systems, there are still almost a million people in the greater Washington, D.C. area without power.

A utility worker clears a downed tree from power lines in Springfield, Va., Sunday, July 1, 2012. A severe storm late Friday knocked out power to approximately one million residents, traffic signals and businesses in the region.

One-year-old Danny Melendez and his mother rest on cots in a Red Cross shelter set up at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Md., after heavy storms in the Washington, D.C. region knocked out power to their apartment building, June 30, 2012.

Earlene Sawyer and other Harris Teeter employees hand out free bags of ice to customers outside of their Bethesda, Md., store on July 1, 2012, two days after a massive storm swept through the region, knocking out power for many area residents. Although crews are at work repairing systems, there are still almost a million people in the greater Washington, D.C., area without power.

An open Starbucks store displays its updated status two days after a massive storm swept through the region, July 1, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland. Although crews are at work repairing systems, there are still almost a million people in the greater Washington, D.C. area without power.

In this Saturday, June 30, 2012, photo, head climber Geoff Largen with Bartlett Tree Experts tries to navigate between lines and a downed White Oak tree limb behind a home in Roanoke, Va. A severe storm late Friday knocked out power to approximately one million residents, traffic signals and businesses in the region.

In this Saturday, June 30, 2012, photo, trees cover a house in Roanoke, Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell is urging residents to remain calm and patient as utility crews work to restore power to 739,000 electric customers after a severe storm late Friday swept through the region.

In this Saturday, June 30, 2012, photo, an AEP crew member works on a power line on Colonial Avenue near Virginia Western Community College, in Roanoke, Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell is urging residents to remain calm and patient as utility crews work to restore power to 739,000 electric customers after a severe storm late Friday swept through the region.

AP/The Columbus Dispatch, Abigail S. Fisher

A fallen tree lies in the street in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, June 30, 2012, after it brought down a utility poll and power lines Friday evening.

In this Saturday, June 30, 2012, photo, trees cover a house in Roanoke, Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell is urging residents to remain calm and patient as utility crews work to restore power to 739,000 electric customers after a severe storm late Friday swept through the region.

Martha and Charlie Boswell stand in their backyard with their neighbor Larry Richardson and examine a large tree that fell after Friday's storm in Roanoke, Va., Saturday, June 30, 2012.

An uprooted tree caused damage to electrical lines and to a home in the American University neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2012, the morning after a violent storm swept through the area.

AP Photo/Abigail S. Fisher, Columbus Dispatch

A fallen tree blocks Franklin Avenue in Columbus, Ohio following Friday's thunderstorms June 29, 2012. The tree fell on two cars and brought down neighboring power lines.

Power lines hang from a utility pole snapped in half and a fallen tree covers a car on Yorktown Blvd., June 30, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. The storm has left more than a million people in the greater Washington, D.C. area without power.

A course worker drives by a fallen tree near the sixth green prior to the third round of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club on June 30, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland. Severe storms hit the area over night causing wide-spread power outages and damage.

A worker uses a chainsaw to clear a tree that fell onto the 14th fairway at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Saturday, June 30, 2012, after a strong storm blew through overnight. The AT&T National golf tournament was postponed to allow workers to clear the course.

A utility pole is seen snapped in half due to heavy winds from Friday night's passing storm, June 30, 2012 in Huntington, Maryland. Over a million homes across the Washington area lost power after a severe thunderstorm hit the area.

AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, P. Kevin Morley

David Fetchko surveys the damage done to the apartment of his girlfriend in Richmond, Va. on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

The top of a tree on Sherwood Avenue was ripped off and landed in the middle of the road on Saturday, June 30, 2012 in Staunton, Va. Violent storms swept across the eastern U.S.

Tents that are part of the annual Folklife Festival on the National Mall were destroyed during heavy storms in the Washington, D.C. region June 30, 2012.

A woman inspects a car left in the middle of the road after a massive storm knocked out power on June 30, 2012 Takoma Park, Maryland. The severe storm has left more than a million people in the Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District area without power and at least a dozen people dead in several states.

An uprooted tree blocks a street in the American University neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2012, the morning after a violent storm swept through the area. The fast-moving line of dangerous storms knocked out power to more than 1.5 million customers in the Washington metropolitan area late June 29, according to media reports. The storms produced hurricane-force winds in excess of 80 mph.

A tree fell on a power line on Thornrose Avenue near Gypsy Hill Park on Saturday, June 30, 2012 in Staunton, Va. Violent storms swept across the eastern U.S., killing at least 10 people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands on a day that temperatures across the region are expected to reach triple-digits.

An uprooted tree lies across a street in the American University neighborhood of Washington, D.C., June 30, 2012, the morning after a violent storm swept through the area. The fast-moving line of dangerous storms knocked out power to more than 1.5 million customers in the Washington metropolitan area alone, according to media reports.

A fallen tree blocks one lane of traffic on 13th Street NW in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, Saturday, June 30, 2012. Violent evening storms following a day of triple-digit temperatures wiped out power to more than 2 million people across the eastern United States.

A tree blown over during a intense storm late Friday night lays on the ground in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Saturday, June 30, 2012. Violent storms swept across the eastern U.S., killing at least a dozen people and knocking out power.

A tree lays on top of a storage building at the home Saturday, June 30, 2012 in Charleston, W.Va. Violent storms swept across the eastern U.S., knocking out power to hundreds of thousands on a day that temperatures across the region are expected to reach triple-digits. Officials said about 500,000 people were without power in West Virginia.

A downed tree blocks a sidewalk in northwest Washington on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

A massive tree cracked and fell blocking Franklin Avenue in Columbus, Ohio following Friday's thunderstorms June 29, 2012. The tree fell on two cars and brought down neighboring power lines.

An American Beech tree is down on Capitol Hill grounds in Washington Saturday, June 30, 2012 across the U.S. Supreme Court after a powerful storm swept across the Washington region late Friday.

A semitrailer slows to negotiate tree limbs across Indiana 18 east of Converse, Ind., after storms blew through the area Friday, June 29, 2012.