Emergency crews dispatched to clear treacherous highways in Mississippi have been working tirelessly as the eastern U.S. faces what could be its longest period of freezing temperatures in decades.
Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi reported heavy traffic snarl on Interstate 55 and other significant highways due to stranded vehicles, urging residents to avoid travel during the dangerous conditions.
In Red Banks, Mississippi, Lacey Clancy described the highway as resembling a parking lot, with many drivers abandoning their vehicles as they ran out of gas.
Local authorities are calling on residents with all-terrain vehicles to assist stranded motorists by delivering essential supplies like food and gas.
As of Wednesday, over 380,000 homes and businesses in the region are still without power, with reports of at least 50 fatalities connected to the severe cold.
The community has rallied together as hospital emergency rooms see an alarming rise in carbon monoxide poisoning cases, primarily due to residents using unsafe heating methods.
Moreover, a new influx of arctic air is predicted to bring even colder conditions over the weekend, raising concern for record low temperatures across states, including Miami.
Hopes for a slight thaw are dimming, with forecasts predicting the possibility of heavy snow across the southern and eastern United States, further complicating an already dire situation.
