BOSTON -- As crews work to restore power to homes of thousands of residents left in the dark after the ice storm, National Grid is warning residents in Worcester that someone is posing as one of its employees.

National Guard Troops Help With Storm Cleanup | Crews Work To Restore Power

Officials said that the man is approaching residents in homes without power saying he will restore their power for a fee. Residents were urged to ask for a National Grid identification if approached so that they are not scammed.

More than 108,000 Massachusetts residents were without power by 5 p.m. Monday. Many public schools in the Bay State remained closed Monday, and dozens of communities had local emergency declarations still in effect.

"Roads aren't safe to drive on, and there might be power lines down. It isn't safe for kids to get around," James Mannion, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said.

"Our house is about 34 degrees, and while my husband and I could have stuck it out, I didn't want to put my 2-year-old through that," a Gardner resident said.

Immediately after the storm on Friday, nearly 350,000 customers were without power, but crews were able to restore power to about two-thirds by Monday.

The Massachusetts National Guard deployed more than 1,300 troops to communities hardest hit by the storm. They are working in 39 communities, cleaning debris, providing military police and conducting door-to-door checks on residents without power.

"We, likely, will ramp over the next 24 hours up to just about 1,500," Massachusetts National Guard Brig. Gen. Thomas Sellars said. "We are also seeing missions were we provide engineering assets, such as generators for powering critical facilities within the communities."

Some residents who were left with no power or heat spent the weekend at an emergency shelter. The state set up about 62 shelters across Massachusetts.

"At least we had a dry place to find food and somewhere to sleep," another resident said.

Gov. Deval Patrick said that he was working with local police to make sure residents are safe.

"We thank all the people who have been affected by the storm for their patience and for exercising care during the clean up," Patrick said.

During the weekend, President George W. Bush declared nine Massachusetts counties federal emergency areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is working closely with the New England states affected by the storm.

"This ice storm packed quite a punch, providing a serious challenge to emergency responders in New England," said FEMA Region I Administrator Art Cleaves. "The steps taken in advance of the storm had gotten the response efforts off to a positive start, and responders from all levels of government and in the private sector are working to get the region back up on its feet."