Nearly a Million Customers Face Prolonged Blackouts (Image Credits: Flickr)
A formidable winter storm barreled across the United States over the weekend, leaving roadways treacherous and plunging hundreds of thousands into darkness.
Nearly a Million Customers Face Prolonged Blackouts
More than 950,000 customers nationwide lost power late Sunday afternoon as ice-laden trees toppled lines from the South to the Midwest.[1][2]
Tennessee reported nearly 200,000 outages in Nashville alone, where heavy ice threatened further collapses. Mississippi saw at least 180,000 affected, the worst ice event since 1994, according to Gov. Tate Reeves. Restoration efforts stalled as crews avoided roads amid falling limbs. Officials warned that frigid conditions would slow melting and complicate repairs for days.[1]
Icy Highways Spark Crashes and Stranded Drivers
Officials in multiple states urged residents to stay home after ice and snow snarled major routes and caused hundreds of collisions. Virginia State Police handled 177 crashes since the storm began, 14 involving injuries. In Louisville, Kentucky, emergency services fielded over 850 calls Saturday for wrecks, stuck vehicles, and cold exposure.[2]
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp deployed 120 National Guard members to the northeast after trees blocked roads in Rabun County. New Jersey pretreated streets, yet Gov. Mikie Sherrill emphasized persistent icing. New York City streets remained hazardous, prompting Mayor Zohran Mamdani to call avoiding roads the “single most helpful thing.”[1]
Tragic Losses Amid Widespread Disruptions
The storm claimed lives as extreme cold set in, with two men in Louisiana succumbing to hypothermia. An elderly man in Colleyville, Texas, required hospitalization after discovery in a freezing pond. Five deaths occurred in New York City Saturday, underscoring risks to vulnerable populations like the homeless.[2]
Flights faced mass cancellations, rivaling pandemic levels, while schools in Dallas, Houston, and Memphis closed Monday. Universities from North Carolina to Mississippi halted classes. Events shifted online, including church services and a fanless Grand Ole Opry show; Louisiana Mardi Gras parades faced postponement.[1]
| State | Reported Outages |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 180,000 |
| Tennessee (Nashville) | 200,000 |
| Louisiana (DeSoto Parish) | Over 50% |
| Texas (Shelby County) | ~5,300 |
Federal Aid Mobilizes as Cold Deepens
President Trump approved emergency declarations for a dozen states, with FEMA staging supplies and rescue teams. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem advised, “Stay home if possible.” National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Santorelli noted the ice would “hinder any recovery efforts.”[1]
The 2,000-mile storm’s unusual reach – from Rocky Mountains to New England – paired with wind chills to minus 40 degrees in Wisconsin, marked it as rare, per NOAA’s Josh Weiss. Nearly 180 million endured warnings Saturday into Sunday.[2]
- Over 950,000 power outages nationwide, worst in South.
- Deadly ice caused crashes, hypothermia deaths, and event cancellations.
- Officials stress staying off roads; recovery delayed by refreezing.
This storm exposed infrastructure strains and the human cost of severe weather, reminding communities to prepare for lingering threats. What impacts did you see in your area? Tell us in the comments.
