More than 80,000 Maine homes and businesses remained without power Monday after a storm dumped up to 21 inches of snow on parts of the state. Now, officials said the power restoration effort could take several days.

Gov. Paul LePage issued an emergency proclamation allowing utility crews to stay on the road for longer hours Sunday to help repair lines and restore power.

"Our first concern is to get power back on for Mainers. Please stay safe and keep off the roads to allow utility crews to do their work," the governor said.

A total of 88,037 customers were without power Monday evening according to Central Maine Power and Emera.

“The heavy snow and strong winds knocked out power to more than 80 percent of the homes and businesses in some counties along the mid-coast,” Central Maine Power spokeswoman Gail Rice told the Portland Press Herald. “The severity of the damage and icy roads are adding to the difficulties facing crews in those areas.”

CMP spokesman John Carroll said the storm was so severe that utility crews were having trouble getting around to assess damage and to make downed lines safe. Restoration efforts were getting underway in earnest on today, he said.

(MORE:Snow Blankets New England, Upper Midwest and South)

The storm packed gusts of 50 mph across much of Maine.

According to unofficial observations reported to the National Weather Service, Cary in eastern Maine got the most snow, 21 inches. Orrington got 17, Hampden recorded 15.5 inches and Bangor got more than a foot.

The Coast Guard suspended the search Sunday for two fishermen whose vessel was believed to have sunk the day before. One fisherman was plucked from the ocean, but two others were aboard the boat.

Dozens of cars slid off roads, keeping police busy.

CentralMaine.com reported that a steady spate of emergency calls from roadways had been coming in since Sunday morning.

Snow began to fall in the area around 8 a.m. Sunday and quickly added up in parts of central and northern Maine. Cary, near the Canadian border south of Houlton, reported 21 inches of snow. Farther south, however, only 0.4 inch fell at Portland's main airport.

The National Weather Service extended winter storm warnings until 1 a.m. EDT Monday for parts of northern and Downeast Maine. Gale warnings remained in effect for most of the New England coast.

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