Area Burmese await word from loved ones

Marylanders with Burmese roots are fearing for loved ones who could be among the estimated 22,000 dead in the storm-devastated nation, but downed power lines and the county?s political situation are slowing news ? and aid ? to a trickle.

Refugees who fled to Maryland from the Southeast Asian nation now called Myanmar ? where, even now, military rulers appear to be slowing humanitarian efforts after powerful Cyclone Nargis struck five days ago ? said they were anxiously waiting to hear from family members. Tuesday, more than 40,000 were still missing, as many as 1 million appeared homeless, and electricity remained cut for almost 6.5 million residents of the nation?s largest city, Yangon.