Deadly Winter Storms Hit Eastern US and Canada
At least four individuals have lost their lives and over 500,000 homes are without power as a result of powerful winter storms that swept through parts of the eastern United States and Canada. Strong winds caused cars to flip and homes to be knocked down in Florida, where multiple tornadoes were reported. The storms have also led to the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights.
Vice-President Kamala Harris’ plane had to be diverted due to inclement weather. A spokesperson for Harris stated that her plane was rerouted to Virginia instead of Maryland on its way back to Washington DC. As of Tuesday evening, over 630,000 households in the eastern US, from Florida to New York State, were without electricity. In response to the storms, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 counties, where roofs have been blown off homes and power lines knocked down.
Twelve tornadoes were reported across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, causing significant damage and triggering search and rescue operations in some areas. More than 22 million people are under tornado watches. Tragically, there have been several fatalities associated with the storms. An 81-year-old woman in Alabama was killed when a tornado ripped through her area, destroying mobile homes and RVs. Additionally, one person was killed and two others critically injured in North Carolina, and a motorist in Georgia died when a tree fell on their car. Another individual in Alabama was crushed to death by a fallen tree.
The extreme weather has caused havoc across multiple states, with roadways becoming impassable, flood warnings being issued, and significant amounts of snowfall occurring. Governors in New Jersey and New York State have declared states of emergency and warned residents of potentially life-threatening conditions. Flood warnings stretch from Louisiana to Maine, affecting 15 states along the US Atlantic coast. The National Weather Service predicts that although the storms will ease slightly, snow showers remain possible, and flood warnings will remain in effect.
This is a developing story and further updates on the storm and its impacts are expected.