Emergency crews dispatched to ice-covered highways in Mississippi have been working through the night to clear stranded vehicles. The situation has arisen as the eastern U.S. faces what meteorologists describe as potentially the longest period of freezing cold in decades.
Traffic jams have been reported on Interstate 55 and other major highways, causing considerable frustration and risk for motorists. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves urged citizens to stay off the roads while crews continue their efforts, supported by soldiers from the Mississippi National Guard.
In the small community of Red Banks, Mississippi, Lacey Clancy described the scene, saying, The highway kind of looks like a parking lot. A lot of people have run out of gas, abandoned their vehicles. Local authorities are asking those with all-terrain vehicles to assist stranded motorists by providing essentials such as water and food.
As temperatures drop across the region, conditions remain harsh for residents who have already been dealing with power outages. Reports indicate that over 380,000 homes and businesses remain without electricity due to the winter storm's impact.
At least 50 fatalities have been reported across the states impacted by the severe cold, including tragic incidents involving children who succumbed to the freezing conditions. In Nashville, where nearly 100,000 outages linger, hospital emergency rooms are seeing an increase in carbon monoxide poisoning cases, as families turn to alternative heating sources in the absence of power.
The weather service warns that even colder temperatures are expected, with forecasts indicating a new drop in temperatures over the weekend that could break records. Dangerous travel conditions are anticipated as further snow and ice are likely in the coming days, affecting areas from the Southeast to the Northeast.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, advising residents to keep warm and safe as they prepare for what could be an extended cold snap.
