UPDATE:
Governor Jack Markell (D) has lifted the Level 2 driving restrictions in the the state of Delaware effective immediately, leaving a Level 1 driving warning in effect. State officials remind residents that while driving is allowed some roads are still closed due flooding or downed trees.
Gov. Markell has also lifted the mandatory evacuation and closure of business order for all areas in which it had been in effect, effective immediately. But state officials said some communities, especially along the Delaware Bay in Sussex and Kent counties remain inaccessible due to flooding.
Gov. Markell is maintaining a limited state of emergency will remain in effect for the purpose of some cleanup activities.
As Hurricane Irene makes pulls away from the First State Sunday, state officials are working to determine how much damage the storm left in its wake.
Driving restrictions put in place Saturday night across the state remain in effect. Via Twitter, Gov. Jack Markell (D) said that dozens of roads are closed due to flooding and down trees, so the state will need some time to assess the situation.
New Castle County officials said this morning 21 roads south of I-95 and 11 north of I-95 remain closed. Among the closed roads are Route 9, Kirkwood Highway from the Mill Creek firehouse to Duncan Road and from Maple Avenue to Beech street in Elsmere near the Veterans Administration Hospital, Route 141 north and south at Newport, Route 13 at the airport and into the city of Wilmington, Gov. Printz Boulevard at Merchant Square Shopping Center, Maryland Avenue at Germay Drive, Route 4 in Stanton, Harmony Road, Route 1 at the Smyrna exit, Carpenter Station Road, and Marrows Road at Chelsea Drive.
New Castle County officials add that the Roth and Summit bridges over the C&D Canal are open for essential personnel only. The St. Georges and Reedy Point bridges remain closed. The Indian River Inlet Bridge also remains closed. DelDOT officials announced Saturday it will remain closed until divers can inspect it
As the state assess what its needs are, it will have federal funds to assist in that effort. Overnight, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted Delaware’s pre-landfall emergency declaration request which makes Delaware eligible for federal assistance for things such as fuel to provide the energy needs of critical facilities and associated operations in the impacted area after the storm, prime power generators needed for emergency shelters and additional support for local shelters.
Gov. Markell will also request an additional emergency declaration from FEMA to make any rebuilding efforts eligible for federal support..
Thousands remain without power in the state. Delaware Electric Cooperative’s outage page counted just under 10 thousand of its customers without power as of 9:30 am. As of 9:30am, approximately 40 thousand Delmarva Power customers remained without service in Delaware - just under 31 thousand in New Castle County, about 31 hundred in Kent County and around 58 hundred in Sussex.
In Wilmington, the Emergency Operations said as of 7 am it had fielded calls for approximately 14 downed trees, two roof collapses, and three vehicles trapped in high water.
“Calls for service were surprisingly light last evening considering the severity of the storm forecast,” said Mayor James Baker's chief of staff William S. Montgomery. “Now that daylight has arrived, we anticipate an increase in the number of residents needing assistance for storm-related issues.”
Wilmington officials add that the evacuation order for southeast Wilmington remains in effect.
In New Castle County, officials say their special-operations personnel made two water rescues involving four victims at the Red Clay Creek near Ashland.