A record heat wave is bearing down on nearly 1.8 million people from North Carolina to New Jersey who are sitting in the dark after a storm ripped through the East Coast knocking out power last week.

More than 3 million people lost power to Friday's freak storm and officials fear the death tool, already at 22, could rise because of the sweltering heat.

Washington's Pepco power company was one of the hardest hit as more than half a million people in the area are without power. Spokesman Clay Anderson said some customers might not have power until Friday, but the utility has called in crews from as far away as Canada and Florida to help.

"We have brought in crews from both New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada, Florida, South Carolina. Other utilities from Illinois to New Jersey are doing the same," Anderson said.

Several hundred traffic lights in and around Washington created traffic snarls Monday. Crews worked to remove downed trees that blocked roads so people can get to work.