Widespread Snow, Ice, and Power Outages
A powerful winter storm has claimed at least 38 lives across 14 states in the United States as of Tuesday. The storm blanketed large portions of the central and eastern US with snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures, local officials reported.
The storm swept in over the weekend, causing severe disruptions, including flight cancellations and widespread power outages. A deep freeze gripped the region, impacting 550,000 homes and businesses and mobilizing emergency response teams.
Cities mobilized resources to protect residents, especially homeless populations. Outreach teams worked around the clock to bring vulnerable individuals indoors. Authorities emphasized that extreme weather is not a personal failure but a public safety challenge.
New York City Hit Hardest
New York City reported 10 storm-related deaths. Temperatures dropped to -13°C, the coldest in eight years, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. Officials are still investigating the victims’ circumstances. Some had prior contact with the city’s shelter system, but the broader causes of death remain under review.
The city postponed its annual homeless count, prioritizing safety over data collection. Outreach teams checked on more than 350 high-risk individuals every two hours, while shelters accommodated around 500 homeless people since January 19. The mayor emphasized the importance of keeping New Yorkers safe during extreme cold.
Nashville and Other States Struggle
Nashville, Tennessee, faced historic ice conditions, with temperatures expected to drop to -14°C and wind chills below zero. The city reported over 135,000 homes and businesses without power. Emergency responders worked overtime, checking streets and providing shelter for more than 1,400 homeless individuals.
The Nashville Rescue Mission, a charity supporting the homeless year-round, saw its nightly intake rise from 400 to 7,000 during the storm. “We never turn anyone away,” a staff member said.
Deaths across the country resulted from exposure, cardiac incidents, and hypothermia related to snow removal. In Texas, three young boys lost their lives after falling into an icy pond. In Austin, a person died from hypothermia while seeking shelter in an abandoned gas station. Additional deaths were reported in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan.
Nearly 200 million Americans remain under winter cold warnings through February 1. Forecasters are monitoring conditions for another possible winter storm this weekend, which could impact the eastern US again, the National Weather Service said.
