Trump Approves Federal Emergency Declarations for Ten States Amid Severe Winter Storm
As a massive winter storm continues to wreak havoc across the United States, President Donald Trump has approved emergency declarations for ten states, authorizing federal assistance to combat the severe weather conditions. The affected states include Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia.
What Does the Emergency Declaration Mean?
A federal emergency declaration enables the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide crucial support for emergency operations. This includes assistance with debris removal and emergency protective measures such as building repairs. According to NBC News, the federal government typically covers 75% of the costs for such emergency work, with local authorities responsible for the remaining 25%.
President Trump emphasized the administration's commitment to public safety in a post on TRUTH Social, stating, "We are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State Emergency Management teams to ensure the safety of everybody. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm!"
Widespread Impact of the Winter Storm
The severe winter weather, characterized by heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerously low temperatures, has created significant challenges across the eastern half of the United States. The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center has warned that the major winter storm will expand into the Mid-Atlantic states by Saturday night and reach the Northeast by late Sunday.
According to reports, approximately 190 million people—more than half of the US population—are currently under winter weather alerts spanning 37 states from the Rockies to New England. Dangerous cold conditions are gripping much of central and eastern US, with wind chills plummeting as low as minus 20 to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit and temperatures running 10 to 40 degrees below average.
Transportation Disruptions and Economic Impact
The storm has caused extensive travel disruptions, with nearly 13,000 US flights canceled from Saturday through Monday, according to FlightAware. Bloomberg reports that this represents the worst level of air travel disruption since last year's government shutdown, which led to air traffic control staffing shortages.
Aviation analytics company Cirium noted that for some airlines, the disruptions expected on Sunday are approaching levels not seen since the coronavirus pandemic devastated air travel. Major airports in Memphis, Oklahoma City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Charlotte, and Nashville have been particularly hard hit, with cancellation rates reaching as high as 90% in some locations.
Ground transportation has also been severely affected. New Jersey Transit announced it will temporarily suspend bus, light rail, and Access Link service for the entire day on Sunday, January 25, with train operations ceasing at 2 p.m. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill urged residents to complete essential errands immediately, stating, "It's a good weekend to stay indoors if you need to make a last run to the grocery store or Home Depot. Get it done now. Get this done today. Anything you need go out today and grab it and plan to stay off the roads tomorrow."
Power Systems Under Strain and Economic Consequences
The massive winter storm stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England is putting significant strain on power systems while threatening large amounts of snow and ice in some of the country's most densely populated corridors. According to Chuck Watson of Enki Research, the storm may result in damages and economic losses totaling as much as $24 billion.
As the severe weather continues to impact millions of Americans, federal and state authorities are coordinating efforts to mitigate the storm's effects and ensure public safety during this challenging period.
