In brief
The U.S. South braves extreme cold and power outages as temperatures plummet. Experts warn that the risk of hypothermia increases, particularly for vulnerable populations. Thousands remain without power, and relief teams are mobilizing to assist affected areas.
BELZONI, Miss. (AP) — A severe winter storm has left parts of the southern U.S. reeling, with sub-freezing temperatures causing dangerous conditions as residents in Mississippi and Tennessee face another day without power.
Experts are expressing concerns as residents enter their sixth day in freezing temperatures, which are expected to drop into the teens (minus 10 degrees Celsius) tonight in areas like Nashville, where over 79,000 households remain powerless after a massive storm incapacitated much of the eastern U.S.
Emergency medicine physicians stress the dangers of prolonged exposure to cold, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Symptoms of hypothermia—including exhaustion and confusion—can arise rapidly in these populations.
States have responded by mobilizing National Guard troops to deliver vital supplies, with Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves indicating that teams are providing meals, blankets, and heating supplies to those in desperate need.
In Nashville, city officials are working diligently to restore power as more than 230,000 residents across Mississippi and Tennessee continue to grapple with outages, many due to fallen trees and downed lines as a result of the severe weather.
Reports indicate that at least 85 people have died across the region as a result of the cold, with many casualties attributed to hypothermia and potential carbon monoxide poisoning from improper heating methods.
According to forecasts, frigid conditions will continue to plague the eastern U.S. into early February, with possible heavy snow hitting parts of the Carolinas and the Northeast this weekend. As the storm moves on, relief efforts will be crucial for many citizens still facing extreme cold and the ongoing effects of power outages.
