N.E. learns lessons from '08 ice storm

JAFFREY, N.H. (AP) - As the cold season returns to the Northeast, residents, utilities and emergency managers say they're better prepared, thanks to lessons from the December 2008 ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power, some for two weeks.

At Unitil, the utility most assailed for delays in restoring power, every employee now has a storm assignment. In New Hampshire, where over half of the state's homes and businesses went dark, lawmakers passed a bill allowing utilities to cut trees on private property if landowners don't respond to a written notice within 45 days.

Some state emergency management agencies emphasized training for a worst-case scenario and being more aggressive about using radio, Web sites and social media outlets for status reports of outages.