A day after shrieking winds and driving rain battered the region, thousands of people were still without electrical power. In reaction, Gov. John Baldacci signed a proclamation allowing line workers to stay on the road longer and seeking additional crews from Canada.

His emergency proclamation will facilitate a waiver from the federal Department of Transportation, which limits the number of hours line workers can remain on the road.

In his declaration, Baldacci described the outage situation a threat to public safety, health and danger to public property.

By Thursday afternoon, roughly 26,000 homes were still without power. That number was whittled down to 12,320 Thursday night. Central Maine Power Co.

Spokesman John Carroll said he expects power to be restored to most customers by midnight, though some were expected to remain out Friday morning.

The outages were scattered in Augusta, Brunswick, Fairfield, Lewiston, Rockland, Lincoln, Bangor and Ellsworth.

Central Maine Power Co. crews said workers would remain on the job until the downed wires were repaired and power was restored.

– By Mark LaFlamme