BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Mary Ellen Downs and her family were among 16,000 Baltimore Gas & Electric customers who woke up Friday morning to face yet another day without power. It was 40 degrees inside their Edgewater home, Downs said.

“We have two cats and two dogs. We’ve got them wrapped up in blankets,” she said. “They have fur coats, but they’re shivering.”

The family has had no running water since Wednesday because they depend on well water that requires electricity to pump. They’ve had to drive 35 miles to a relative’s house to shower.

They haven’t opened the refrigerator door, but Downs said she expects it to look like a science experiment inside when she does.

BGE had 2,000 workers, some from out of state, working 12- to 16-hour days trying to restore power to those without it, the utility company said. Everyone was expected to have power restored by today.

A shelter for those who don’t have power, at South County Senior Center on Stepneys Lane in Edgewater, will remain open until 8 p.m.

“Some people complained that the cots are not the best, but it’s better than staying in their very, very cold homes,” said Sharon Poet, who works at the senior center.

On Friday, the animal-control facility in Millersville cared for four dogs owned by people staying at the shelter.

“It’s unfortunate they can’t keep the animals at the shelter with them, but the dogs are all fine. People are calling to check up on them,” said Lt. James Richey, county animal control commander.

Others, like the Downs family, toughed it out at home at least partly to take care of pets.

More snow could be on the way.

The National Weather Service said there was a 30 percent chance of snow tonight and 20 percent Sunday, though less than an inch is expected to accumulate. The weekend will remain cold with highs just slightly above freezing and lows down to 15 or 20 degrees Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

lgreenback@baltimoreexaminer.com