Severe Winter Storm Grips Southern U.S., Leaving Thousands Without Power

Mon Feb 02 2026 20:23:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A powerful winter storm has caused widespread outages and challenging conditions across Mississippi and Tennessee, with residents struggling for warmth and basic necessities.

Mississippi and Tennessee are facing a crisis as a severe winter storm leaves around 298,000 homes without power and emergency services scramble to assist those stranded by ice and fallen trees. The situation is particularly dire for the elderly and those with medical conditions as they reach out for medication and oxygen. With frigid temperatures expected to continue, the communities and their officials are grappling with the consequences of one of the worst winter storms in decades.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi dispatchers are overwhelmed with calls from residents pleading for medication and oxygen as they remain trapped in their homes without power. Emergency responders in Tennessee are conducting welfare checks on individuals who have not been heard from for days. Some areas are so paralyzed by ice and fallen trees that officials are using fire trucks to transport patients to hospitals.

The region could see power restoration delays stretching across several days, with more dangerously low temperatures expected. The elderly and those with medical needs are particularly vulnerable, stranded and without heat.

Nancy Dillon, 87, recounted her three-day ordeal without power outside Nashville, relying solely on her fireplace for warmth. As her phone died and backup sources failed, she grew increasingly anxious about her ability to call for help in case of an emergency.

Mississippi officials declared the situation a major emergency, marking the worst winter storm in over three decades. Approximately 60 warming centers opened across the state, though for many communities, further assistance is desperately needed.

Hal Ferrell, the mayor of Batesville, reported that the entire city was without electricity, and the lack of access to warming shelters for a population of 7,500 left residents in peril.

Roughly 298,000 dwellings are still affected as of Wednesday night, primarily in Mississippi and Tennessee. The death toll due to this extreme cold has climbed to at least 70 across the U.S.

In Hardin County, Tennessee, emergency officials expressed concern for residents who have depleted their fuel supplies to keep warm. With temperatures plummeting further, the situation remains precarious.

As utility workers strive to restore power, they face countless challenges from downed trees and gas leaks due to the icy conditions. Authorities expect that restoration efforts could stretch into the weekend or beyond.

Forecasters have warned that the extreme cold will persist, with states grappling with the continuation of frigid conditions and the potential for more snowfall in the eastern U.S. The National Weather Service has cautioned residents to prepare for dangerously low wind chills below zero in the coming days.

The Mississippi government has dispatched numerous snowplows and National Guard units to assist with gridlocked interstates due to stranded vehicles along ice-stricken regions.

Locals have been resourceful in their struggle; some are collecting ice to melt it for water needs. Concerns about limited supplies of propane and other heating sources have led to widespread apprehension.