Power out for hundreds of thousands, roadways snarled with ice as dangerous weather hits due to storm

Storm wreaks havoc across the nation, crippling power grids and bringing roads to a standstill.

A monster storm continues its rampage across the country, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and snarling roadways with treacherous ice. The National Weather Service has warned that nearly 180 million people, or more than half of the U.S. population, are under threat from widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

As of Sunday morning, over 700,000 power outages have been reported in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, according to data analysis by CBS News. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has pre-positioned commodities, staff, and search and rescue teams in numerous states, with President Trump approving emergency declarations for at least a dozen states.

The Midwest is experiencing some of the most extreme weather conditions, with windchills as low as minus 40 Fahrenheit reported in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. This has led to widespread frostbite risks, making it essential for residents to stay indoors and avoid travel.

In Shelby County, Texas, pine trees have been weighed down by ice, causing branches to snap and power lines to be severed. The local commissioner described the scene as "a lot to deal with right now." Similarly, in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, vehicles have collided with fallen trees, and crews are working to clear roads.

Emergency services in Louisville, Kentucky, have handled over 850 calls related to collisions, stranded motorists, and other emergencies due to exposure to cold. The actual number could be even higher, according to officials.

The storm is expected to bring record-breaking cold temperatures to the Northeast, with forecasters warning of extreme weather conditions that could rival those experienced during a hurricane. Weather experts attribute the storm's uniqueness to its vast spatial coverage and potential for prolonged extreme cold snaps.

As the nation grapples with this powerful winter storm, officials are urging residents to stay indoors, avoid travel, and prioritize their safety above all else.
 
Ugh I'm so glad I'm not out there... 🀯 This storm is literally crazy! Like, 700k power outages in Texas alone? How's that even happening? And the Midwest is basically frozen over ❄️ Minus 40F windchills are insane. I feel for all those people stuck inside with no power or heat. At least they're getting some help from the gov tho πŸ’―. But seriously, how do you stay safe in a situation like this? I'd be freezing my butt off out there.
 
Ugh, I feel so bad for everyone in the US right now πŸ˜•. 700k+ power outages is crazy! How's that going to affect people's daily lives? And on top of that, the roads are basically impassable with all that ice... just think about how many people are stranded out there 🚨. I get that we need to prioritize our safety, but this whole thing feels like a real mess. The fact that it's affecting half of the country is just wild β›ˆοΈ. Can't wait to see what the Northeast is like once it hits... expected to be even worse 😬.
 
Ugh I'm so over this winter thing πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ. Like seriously 180 million people without power? That's crazy! 😱 I remember back in the day when we used to just get snowed in for like a week or two and we'd play board games by candlelight, it was actually kind of fun 🎲. Now we have like advanced weather forecasting and still we can't prepare for this level of severity? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

I mean I'm glad the President is on top of it and all, but come on 700,000 power outages? That's just wild ❄️. And don't even get me started on the pine trees breaking from ice... like what's next? 🌲

Anywayz to stay safe out there people, bundle up and drink some hot cocoa β˜•οΈ. This too shall pass 😊.
 
omg 700k power outages is like, crazy! 🀯 i mean, who needs cable tv when you can just play video games in the dark? πŸ˜‚ anywayz, hope everyone stays safe & warm in this super cold weather...i heard minus 40 fahrenheit, that's like, colder than my aunties freezer ❄️ sendin' all the hot chocolate & blankets to those in need πŸ«β˜•οΈ
 
this is crazy, right? like, how can nature just take over like that? but you know what's even crazier? how people come together after something like this happens. I mean, the fact that there are so many folks on the ground helping out and volunteering their time to support those in need... it's truly heartwarming! πŸ’• also, I'm low-key impressed by the emergency response teams - they're like superheroes saving lives one call at a time πŸ¦Έβ€β™‚οΈ. and let's not forget about the pine trees in Shelby County that are literally holding on for dear life πŸŒ²πŸ˜‚, it's like nature is giving us all a big ol' hug! ❀️
 
Ugh πŸ€•, I'm so worried about people stuck in the cold! ❄️ This storm is literally crazy πŸ’₯. Like, who expects to see -40Β°F? 😷 In Wisconsin, no less! The roads are like ice rinks out there πŸ’οΈ and I don't blame anyone for staying indoors. My grandma just moved to Texas from up north and she's already shoveling snow 😩. She's not even 60 yet! As long as everyone stays safe, that's all that matters πŸ’–.
 
I'm so confused about this weather thingy πŸ€”... on one hand I think it's super bad that people are stuck without power and can't even get around, you feel? like, 700k outages is a lot to deal with 😬... but at the same time, isn't it cool that we're getting such crazy windchills in Wisconsin?! minus 40 fahrenheit?! whoa 🀯... and I mean, I get that officials are warning us to stay safe, but can't we just kinda... cope? like, how far can people really go without power and stuff for a bit? 5 days or something? ⏰...

and omg, those pine trees in Texas are just, like, totally snapping under the ice 🌲😱... I mean, I'm all for being prepared for emergencies and all, but is it really that hard to clear roads when you have snow and stuff? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

anywayz, I guess what I'm trying to say is... yeah, this storm is bad, but like... isn't it kinda awesome too? 😎
 
🌨️ I'm low-key worried about those people stuck in the middle of nowhere πŸŒ³πŸ’¨. Like, 700k power outages is crazy! Who's gonna check on 'em? πŸ€” And what about them pine trees? Snapping branches and power lines everywhere 😩. My grandma lives in Louisiana and I'm a bit concerned for her safety too... πŸ˜• Hopefully the emergency services are doing their thing and the people get through this alive πŸ’•
 
OMG, I'm low-key worried about those people stuck without power πŸŒ©οΈπŸ’‘! 700k+ outages in just a few states is crazy 😱! Can't even imagine having to shiver through the night with no heat πŸ’€πŸ˜‚. And poor Shelby County, TX - pine trees are literally snapping like twigs 🌳😨! Emergency services are doing their best, but it's clear this storm is a total beast 🐺πŸ’₯. Stay safe, everyone πŸ™πŸ’•, and let's hope the power comes back on ASAP β±οΈπŸ’‘ #StayWarm #PowerOutage #WinterStorm
 
this is insane 😱! 700k power outages in texas alone? that's like, a whole city without electricity πŸŒƒπŸ”‹. and the roads are getting worse by the minute... i mean, who needs to go outside when you can just stay indoors with a hot cup of coffee β˜•οΈ and binge-watch your favorite shows πŸ“Ί. but seriously, what's going on in this country? 180 mil people under threat? that's like half the population! β„οΈπŸ’¨ and yeah, -40f windchills are crazy! who needs to go outside when it's THAT COLD?! β„οΈπŸ˜‚. emergency services are gonna need some serious backup πŸš‘πŸ’ͺ. this storm is straight-up intense 😲πŸŒͺ️.
 
Ugh πŸ€• I'm getting old, remember when we used to get snowed in for days? Nowadays it's like a mini-hurricane every time there's a little bit of cold weather 😩. Back in my day, we didn't have these fancy power grids, if the power went out, you just lit some candles and huddled by the fire πŸ”₯. And what's with all this emergency stuff? We just used to call it being prepared πŸ™„. I mean, I'm not saying we weren't prepared back then, but we didn't need all these fancy teams and commodities to deal with a little snowstorm ❄️. Give me a day without Wi-Fi, but at least the power's still on πŸ’». And what's up with all this cold weather? We used to just bundle up and go outside, now everyone's walking around like a zombie in mittens πŸ˜‚.
 
I'm worried about our power company's response time here in Texas... 700k outages is crazy! I know it's not an excuse but we just got a new baby (4 months old) and our backup generator wasn't even tested last year 🀯😬. How are they supposed to keep the hospitals running with no electricity? And what about the elderly folks who can't afford generators or stay safe at home? πŸš¨πŸ’‘
 
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