Emergency crews dispatched to ice-covered highways in Mississippi have been working overnight and into Wednesday morning to clear stranded vehicles amidst what meteorologists are calling one of the most extended and severe cold spells in decades.
Governor Tate Reeves reported significant traffic snarls on Interstate 55 and other highways in northern Mississippi, urging the public to stay home. The Mississippi National Guard has been deployed to assist with recovery efforts.
A freezing rain event has left major roads practically impassable, creating a situation reminiscent of a parking lot, as described by Red Banks resident Lacey Clancy, who remarked on the backlog of abandoned cars at her local cafe.
“A lot of people have run out of gas and abandoned their vehicles,” Clancy noted, highlighting the dire circumstances many were facing.
In response to the situation, local officials have called for help from residents with all-terrain vehicles to deliver food, water, blankets, and gasoline to those stuck on the highways.
Across the eastern United States, record low temperatures are persisting days after a storm brought freezing rain, snow, and ice. The power outage tracking site poweroutage.us indicates that over 380,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity, predominantly affecting regions in Mississippi and Tennessee. Tragically, reports indicate at least 50 fatalities across states impacted by the severe weather.
In addition to the snow and ice, hospitals in Nashville have reported an uptick in carbon monoxide poisonings, as residents turned to alternate heating sources amidst extended power outages.
As extreme cold is forecasted to continue, new arctic air is set to sweep through the country, posing further challenges for recovery efforts, with meteorologists warning of heavy snowfall on the horizon.
