Winter storms: millions are still without power, as the forecast indicates more ice and cold temperatures in the hardest hit states

“Half-inch strips of ice will be possible” in the next three days for areas from Texas to Mississippi and even Virginia, according to the National Meteorological Service. “All severe climatic hazards will be possible, including some tornadoes” from the Florida Panhandle to coastal Carolinas on Thursday, the NWS said.

With electricity demand “at an all-time high,” New Orleans had to prepare for power outages until midnight on Wednesday, according to NOLA Ready, New York City’s emergency preparedness campaign. Orleans.

In the state with nearly 3 million outages in the country, the executive director of the Texas Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT), Bill Magness, said he was not sure when the power could return to customers.

“We cannot afford to fall into a situation where, acting prematurely – I hate to say it because it was such a long event – but acting prematurely to close it completely, we ended up in that blackout that could last, you know, a period of time undetermined, “said Magness.

Injuries and destruction

Along with interruptions, the harsh climate brought destruction, injury and even death.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, has reported more than 100 water pipe breaks and service lines due to arctic conditions, according to the Waterline Break Board on the Tulsa city website.

“Water line breaks in Tulsa are creating dangerous conditions,” tweeted the Tulsa Police with a photo of a parked patrol car that got stuck when a water line broke and the water froze around the vehicle’s wheels.

On Monday, 123 people were hospitalized across the state with weather-related injuries.

Authorities have warned residents that conditions make roads treacherous, and deadly traffic incidents have been reported.

A person in Medina County, outside of Cleveland, was killed when he hit a snow plow in his vehicle, Ohio Transport Director Jack Marchbanks announced on Tuesday.

According to the director, 11 snow plows have been hit in Ohio in just the past two weeks, compared with eight hit last winter. “So it is very tricky out there,” said Marchbanks.

In North Carolina, the largest climate system produced a tornado that hit Brunswick County on Monday, killing three people and wounding 10 others, officials said.

“We received a minimum warning,” Edward Conrow, director of emergency services for Brunswick County, told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. “We received a tornado alert from the National Weather Service that was broadcast, but at that time the storm was already on the ground, causing damage.”

Climate delays Covid-19 vaccinations

Climatic risks have also hampered the country’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic.

States from Colorado to Georgia have delayed their shipments or vaccination commitments due to weather conditions.

The impacts at a vaccine distribution center in Tennessee will delay delivery of doses to Colorado and other states, according to the Colorado State Joint Information Center. Ohio expected shipments directly from Pfizer and Moderna, which will be delayed by one to two days due to severe weather, Governor Mike DeWine said on Tuesday.

Many health providers in Georgia are rescheduling their vaccination appointments due to the delays, but when they will be able to reschedule them will depend on when shipments resume, which could happen next week, the Georgia Department of Public Health said Tuesday. market.

Vaccines being delivered to Illinois will be directed to their “receiving location, storage and national strategic stock stage” in anticipation of such delays, according to a state press release.

Texas Mayor spent 38 hours without heating or water

Texas suffered the worst of the storm, and many there are suffering from low temperatures, with no energy to heat their homes.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price told CNN on Tuesday night that she had no electricity or water for about 38 hours.

“The temperature dropped to a record low last night, two degrees below,” said Price. “So, it’s very cold and this is Texas, in northern Texas. We don’t have that kind of weather. People don’t always have clothes for that and they certainly don’t drive very well in it.”

“If people have neighbors who know they don’t have heating and maybe they do, offer to welcome them, let’s take care of each other, let’s try to do the right thing by helping, sharing what we have”, asked the mayor. Price says the city has the resources to open more shelters if necessary and will assess the situation hourly.

For residents who are homeless and cannot be served by shelters, Waco, Texas, is offering 15 hotel rooms for six nights, said Mayor Dillon Meek.

“This is not a sustainable solution, but it helps prevent vulnerable people from taking shelter in single-digit temperatures.”