ARLINGTON, VA (CBS) -- From the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic it's a fourth day of extreme heat and frustration for tens of thousands still without power after Friday's storm. At least 23 deaths are blamed on weather, but authorities are concerned the longer it takes to get back to normal the more vulnerable people are.
Utility crews in Virginia are battling downed trees, oppressive heat and upset customers. Terry Savala of Alexandria, West Virginia says, "It is a huge mess, and we haven't seen any work being done in the neighborhood to cup up the trees."
A a call center, customers want to know how much longer they have to sweat it out. One person says on the phone, "All of our customers are looking for updates this morning and we are trying to get to them all."
Virginia is one of seven states, along Washington, DC, where more than a million homes and business are still in the dark after Friday's storms. Dan Genest with Dominion Virginia Power says, "This whole job here is probably five or six hours. And you multiply that by thousands and it just takes a lot of man hours to get into these neighborhoods."
Not only are these downed trees a headache for utility crews, they've cut off some neighborhoods. With temperatures in the 90s those with special medical needs and the elderly are at risk. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says, "This is when our senior citizens are most vulnerable."
In West Virginia, stores are giving away ice and water. Dan Genest says his crews are working 16 hour shifts and longer. He says, "They are getting out on the job, and at 10:00 at night it's not done. And we're saying you need to come back and get rest, and they are saying, no, we are staying here until we get those people's lights on."
Still many may not have power back until the weekend.