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Millions remain without power due to winter storm in the US

2021-02-17T10:55:41.901Z


As millions of people in the United States continue to weather a deadly winter storm without power, forecasts predict that ice and cold temperatures could continue in some of the worst-hit states.


New winter storm to hit parts of the US 0:42

(CNN) -

As millions of people in the United States continue to weather a deadly winter storm without power, forecasts predict that ice and cold temperatures could continue in some of the worst-hit states.

"Half-inch fringes of ice will be possible" over the next three days for areas from Texas to Mississippi to Virginia, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

"All severe weather hazards will be possible, including a couple of tornadoes" from Florida to the coast of the Carolinas on Thursday, NWS said.

  • What to do if you find yourself in the middle of a power outage

This occurs as states with typically mild winters, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kentucky, face dangerous roads, power and water outages from winter storms.

This has led to at least 26 deaths, including three people who died in carbon monoxide-related incidents and a driver who collided with a snow plow.

The current round of winter weather is underway in the southern plains and will continue to develop as winter weather pushes to the northeast.

Then, the warming trend will begin in Texas this weekend and will moderate for the rest of the regions that have been affected by the freezing temperatures, said CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.

Many of those who will face harsh temperatures are among the nearly 3.5 million customers who are still in the dark, according to PowerOutage.US.

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With electricity demand at a "record high," New Orleans has had to prepare for continuous power outages until midnight Wednesday, according to NOLA Ready, the City of New Orleans' emergency preparedness campaign.

In a state with nearly 3 million of the nation's reported blackouts, Executive Director of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Bill Magness, said he is uncertain when power could return to customers.

“We can't just fall into a situation where, by acting prematurely - I hate to say it because it's been a very long event - but by acting prematurely to shut it down completely, we end up in that blackout that could last, you know, an amount of time indeterminate, ”Magness said.

Injury and destruction

Along with power outages, severe weather has brought destruction, injury, and even death.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, reported more than 100 main and water service breaks due to Arctic conditions, according to the Water Line Break Board on the City of Tulsa website.

  • How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to keep warm during power outages

"Water line breaks in Tulsa are creating dangerous conditions," Tulsa police tweeted with a photo of a parked patrol car that got stuck when a water line broke and fluid froze around the vehicle's wheels.

As of Monday, 123 people had been hospitalized across the state with weather-related injuries.

Officials have warned residents that conditions make the roads dangerous and deadly traffic incidents have been reported.

A person in Medina County, outside of Cleveland, was killed when he struck a snow plow with his vehicle, Ohio Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks announced Tuesday.

According to the director, 11 snowplows have been hit in Ohio in the past two weeks alone, compared to eight throughout last winter.

"So it's very treacherous out there," Marchbanks said.

In North Carolina, the weather system produced a tornado that swept through Brunswick County on Monday, leaving three people dead and 10 injured, authorities said.

"We had minimal warning," Edward Conrow, Brunswick County emergency services director, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

"We had a tornado warning from the National Weather Service that was broadcast, but at that point the storm was already on the ground, causing damage."

Travel conditions have also resulted in the cancellation of 9,210 flights Monday through Thursday, according to FlightAware.com

The weather delays vaccines against covid-19

Climate hazards have also created obstacles in the national battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

States ranging from Colorado to Georgia have delayed their shipments or vaccination appointments due to weather conditions.

The impact on a vaccine distribution center in Tennessee will delay the shipment of doses to Colorado and other states, according to the Colorado State Joint Information Center.

Ohio expected shipments directly from Pfizer and Moderna to be delayed for a day or two due to severe weather, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday.

  • US cities and states delay vaccine distribution due to winter storms

Many healthcare providers in Georgia are rescheduling their vaccination appointments due to delays, but the date they can reschedule will depend on when shipments resume, which could happen next week, the Department of Public Health said Tuesday. Georgia.

Vaccines shipped to Illinois will be shipped to its "Strategic National Reserve Stage, Storage and Receiving Site" in anticipation of such delays, according to a state news release.

Mayor in Texas spent 38 hours without heat or water due to storm

Texas has suffered the brunt of the storm and many are experiencing freezing temperatures without power to heat their homes.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price told CNN Tuesday night that she was without power or water for about 38 hours.

"Last night it dropped to a record low, two degrees below zero," Price said.

So it's very cold, and this is Texas, North Texas.

We don't have this kind of climate.

People don't always have the right clothes and they certainly don't drive very well that way.

"If people have neighbors who know they do not have heating and they may have it, offer to host them, take care of each other, try to do the right thing helping, share what we have," urged the mayor to the neighbors.

Price says the city has the resources to open more shelters if necessary and will assess the situation every hour.

For residents who are homeless and cannot be served by shelters, Waco, Texas, offers 15 hotel rooms for six nights, Mayor Dillon Meek said.

"This is not a sustainable solution, but it helps prevent vulnerable people from sheltering in single digit temperatures."

CNN's Chris Boyette, Gisela Crespo, Rebekah Riess, Jessica Myers, Andy Rose, and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.

winter storm

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-02-17

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