At least five people dead, nearly 250,000 homes without power.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. government workers were told to stay home again Wednesday after a powerful winter storm swept up the East Coast, dumping snow, paralyzing traffic, and leaving at least five people dead.

The storm moved toward Maine early Wednesday and was expected to drop fresh snow on Pennsylvania and New England, a day after the governors of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina declared states of emergency in hard-hit areas.

Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, New York's LaGuardia and Boston's Logan Airport, among others, were closed Tuesday.

In the Carolinas, nearly a quarter of a million customers were without power because of downed electrical lines.

Second Storm System On The Way

Forecasters said the Southeast could expect a break from the heavy precipitation Wednesday, but they warned that another storm could hit by week's end.

Except for military and emergency personnel, the 250,000 federal workers in Washington were excused from work for the second day in a row.

Tuesday's weather shutdown, the ninth since 1987, cost taxpayers $60 million in lost work, said Jon-Christopher Bua, director of communications with the personnel office.

Congress only returned from its winter recess Monday and had a light schedule -- but the snow wiped out most of it.