Millions of Americans in the South are entering another night of freezing temperatures no clean water or enough to eat. At food banks and water distribution points, the lines now reach 1.6 km.
President Biden says he will sign a new emergency declaration to the state of Texas, where half the state is still under boiling water warning. Millions more in Louisiana and Mississippi are facing the same crisis on Friday night.
Things are so bad in San Antonio that firefighters struggled to get water out of the fire hydrants to fight a huge fire. Thousands of houses were destroyed by broken pipes and families are now concerned how will they pay for cleaning.
At least 44 deaths were associated with severe weather this week. The economic cost of storms can reach $ 50 billion.
In Houston, Andrew Rudnick called in at least 100 plumbers to repair his broken pipes. Rudnick and his wife Megan have a 6-month-old daughter, Reese, and are desperate for help.
“What is it like to have a 6-month-old child and be without water at home for days on end?” CBS News asked.
“It’s scary to have to ask a neighbor to use your external hose to fill a pot so you can boil water for your baby’s bottles,” said Megan.
They are also concerned about mold and may have to tear down the walls themselves.
“It is definitely overwhelming, we are just talking about where we are staying tonight,” said Andrew Rudnick.
Half of the state’s population – over 14 million – still lack drinking water. In the Dallas area, they are preparing to distribute 25,000 meal kits this weekend. In addition to Texas, taps are dry in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, as teams rush to thaw frozen water pipes.
The storm stopped millions in its path – but not Jenny Passman’s baby. She had to give birth in her living room, with no light or running water.
It could be the next week before the boiling water warning is lifted, according to Texas officials.
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