Bitter Cold, Power Outages Persist After Major Winter Storm
At least 45 people have died and roughly 448,000 customers remain without power as brutal cold and another storm threat loom.
Overview
Emergency crews continued restoring power as roughly 448,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity across the eastern U.S., with over half of outages in Tennessee and Mississippi, utility records show.
The massive storm dumped snow across more than 1,300 miles from Arkansas to New England and left parts of the South coated in ice, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of an intensifying second storm expected Friday and Saturday.
Officials reported at least 45 deaths linked to the cold, including three brothers ages 6, 8 and 9 who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham, Texas, Fannin County Sheriff Cody Shook said.
Federal and state agencies mobilized aid, with FEMA sending supply trucks to Mississippi and the U.S. Department of Energy issuing emergency orders to allow backup generation through Saturday, officials confirmed.
Forecasters warned record lows and the potential for additional snow and lake-effect bands through early February, and authorities urged residents to avoid outdoor exposure for extended periods, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the storm neutrally, prioritizing official data (NWS warnings, FlightAware cancellations), utility and local-official statements, and human-impact quotes (bereaved family, residents). Editorial language is descriptive ('brutal cold') but largely factual; sourcing and structure emphasize situational reporting over partisan interpretation, with no significant viewpoint omissions.
Sources (60)
FAQ
Roughly 448,000 customers remain without power across the eastern U.S., with over half of the outages in Tennessee and Mississippi.
The storm dumped snow across more than 1,300 miles and coated parts of the South in ice, leading to downed trees, broken power lines, and significant damage to transmission and distribution systems.
At least 45 people have died due to the cold, including three brothers ages 6, 8, and 9 who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham, Texas.
A second intensifying storm is expected Friday and Saturday, with record lows, additional snow, and lake-effect bands through early February, complicating power restoration amid brutal cold.
FEMA sent supply trucks to Mississippi, the U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency orders for backup generation through Saturday, and utility crews like Entergy Mississippi are working around the clock, with some restorations expected by Thursday, Jan. 29.
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