Deadly January storms have wreaked havoc across the United States, transforming roads into treacherous icy death traps and claiming lives from Oregon to Tennessee. As New York City braces for its first significant snowfall in over two years, the National Weather Service has issued warnings of up to 5 inches of snow, adding to the wintry chaos in the state and parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In Rochester, New York, an American Airlines plane slid off a snowy taxiway on Thursday after arriving from Philadelphia. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries in the incident.
On the West Coast, Oregon’s governor declared a statewide emergency on Thursday night in response to multiple counties’ requests for aid amid severe and prolonged weather conditions. Freezing rain has caused significant damage and left thousands without power in parts of Oregon’s Willamette Valley since Saturday.
Jamie Kenworthy, a real estate broker in Jasper, Lane County, shared her ordeal of being without power for several days. She expressed her frustrations, saying, We lost power on Saturday, and we were told yesterday that it would be over two weeks before it’s back on… We do have a generator that we got last year, and right now it’s running an oil plug-in heater.
Over the past two weeks, the entire nation has been battered by storms, unleashing heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and bone-chilling temperatures. The resulting chaos has disrupted traffic, air travel, and tragically claimed at least 45 lives.
One heart-wrenching incident occurred in Portland, Oregon, where three people were electrocuted by a downed power line. A man slipped on an icy driveway and fell onto the live wire while holding a baby in his arms. Though the baby survived, the man’s pregnant 21-year-old girlfriend and her 15-year-old brother tragically lost their lives as they attempted to help. Ronald Briggs, the victims’ father, tearfully expressed his grief, saying, I have six kids. I lost two of them in one day.
Efforts to restore power have been underway in Oregon, but progress has been slow. By Thursday night, more than 79,000 residents remained without electricity, compounding the hardships caused by the severe weather. Portland Public Schools have canceled classes for four consecutive days due to icy roads and water damage to buildings. State offices in Portland have also been ordered to remain closed on Friday.
The bitter cold and icy conditions have also gripped the southern regions of the country. Tennessee, in particular, has experienced a surge in ice accumulation, resulting in hazardous roads and tragic incidents. Authorities have attributed at least 14 deaths to the winter weather system, including a box truck driver who collided with a tractor-trailer on an interstate, a man who fell through a skylight while cleaning a roof, and a woman who succumbed to hypothermia in her home.
As the frigid temperatures continue to take their toll, vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, bear the brunt of the storm’s impact. In Nashville, Tennessee, where snowfall rarely accumulates to significant depths, homeless support organizations like Open Table Nashville are working tirelessly to provide warmth and essential supplies to those in need. Aaron Robison, who takes refuge at one of the city’s warming centers, expressed his gratitude, saying, Thank God for people helping people on the streets.
While the South struggles with icy conditions, Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson, faces another setback in its already-troubled water system. Approximately 12,000 customers are grappling with low water pressure due to a surge in pipe breaks caused by thawing frozen ground. Additionally, an alleged misinformation campaign on social media led to heightened demand for water, further straining the already fragile system.
The adverse weather conditions have not spared the oil fields of North Dakota, where workers and equipment have been tested by wind chills as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 56.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The extreme cold has resulted in over 60 reported oil spills and other environmental incidents.
On the West Coast, Seattle grapples with the devastating consequences of sub-freezing temperatures where the medical examiner’s office has reported five deaths from exposure to the cold in just four days. Most of the deceased individuals were presumed to be homeless.
In Kansas, authorities are investigating the death of an 18-year-old whose body was discovered in a ditch near his snow-stranded vehicle.
As the United States battles these deadly winter storms, it is imperative to extend support and assistance to those affected, particularly the vulnerable and homeless populations enduring the brunt of the extreme weather. In the face of unprecedented challenges, communities are coming together to provide warmth, essential supplies, and assistance, highlighting the resilience and compassion of the American spirit during times of adversity.
