The southern United States was struck by a devastating natural disaster as blizzard swept through the states, leaving widespread destruction and a heavy toll of human life. The extreme cold claimed the lives of more than 100 people across several states, in an exceptional weather event that hit areas geographically and climatically unaccustomed to freezing temperatures.
Details of the climate disaster
The crisis began with heavy snowfall that blanketed North Carolina and neighboring states, prompting local and federal authorities to issue urgent warnings for residents to stay indoors and avoid highways that had turned into treacherous icy tracks. The National Weather Service warned that the storm not only threatened transportation but also posed a significant risk to coastal buildings and structures due to high winds and freezing waves.
NASA space missions paralyzed
The storm's repercussions weren't limited to daily life; they extended to the strategic space sector. NASA was forced to postpone a crucial fueling test for its giant 98-meter rocket, which sits on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This logistical delay could, in turn, postpone the anticipated crewed mission to the lunar orbit, initially scheduled for February, casting a shadow over the timeline of the American space program.
Historical records since 1989
The National Weather Service reported that the region is experiencing a deepening and intensifying coastal hurricane, bringing with it a wave of frigid polar air. Temperatures are expected to plummet below freezing in parts of South Florida, a very rare occurrence. The agency confirmed that the region could see its lowest temperatures since 1989, bringing back memories of the historic cold snap that struck the area decades ago.
Energy infrastructure collapse
The winter storm, which blanketed vast areas from New Mexico to Maine, left approximately 200,000 customers without power, mostly in southern states like Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. These states were particularly hard hit because their infrastructure is not designed to withstand temperatures as low as -9 degrees Celsius, while the average temperature for January is between 2 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Authorities' response and emergency measures
In response to this crisis, all affected states mobilized their resources:
- South Carolina: The Department of Public Works has deployed snowplows for the first time in five years.
- North Carolina: The National Park Service has closed campgrounds and beaches in the Outer Banks to protect residents from coastal storms.
- Mississippi: Governor Tate Reeves announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be deployed to help install generators, with 79 shelters and heating centers opened to rescue those affected by the bitter cold.
