Original title: Winter storm hits many places in the United States and the disaster in Buffalo is as bad as a “war zone”
Many U.S. states have been affected by a large-scale winter storm since Dec. 22. As of the 26th, dozens of people have been killed. Low temperatures, high winds and heavy snows hit the United States from north to south for several days, hampering transportation and cutting off power supplies. US President Joe Biden has declared a federal state of emergency in hard-hit New York state.
According to Agence France-Presse which cites official US data, as of the 26th the winter storm has caused 49 deaths. According to statistics from the National Broadcasting Corporation of the United States, there are at least 60 deaths related to this bad weather in the United States.
Information on the flight tracking website shows that more than 3,800 flights in the United States were canceled on the 26th, and more than 15,000 flights were canceled in the past few days. Some of the busiest highways in the United States remain closed due to icy roads. Furthermore, at noon on the 26th, there were still around 50,000 users in the area of the east coast whose power supply has not been restored.
Buffalo, New York was hardest hit by the storm. According to data from the United States National Weather Service, as of the morning of the 26th, snow accumulation at Buffalo International Airport reached 1.27 meters. The airport remained closed on the 27th.
While inspecting the disaster in Buffalo, New York State Governor Cathy Hochul said the local tragedy was like a “war zone,” with homes covered in eight feet of snow, snowplows and rescue vehicles. buried in the snow. “This is the storm of the century,” Hochul said, “it’s too early to say it’s over.”
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, where Buffalo is located, said it was the “worst” snowstorm he had ever seen, with visibility at zero point and the government unable to respond to 911 calls. “It’s heartbreaking when you get calls and hear families say their kids are freezing.”
Erie County Mayor Mark Polonkaz said on social media Twitter on the 26th that the number of deaths related to the snowstorm in Erie County had risen to 27. “It’s not over yet,” he warned, warning residents to stay indoors given additional snowfall and the “impassability” of much of Buffalo.
Driving bans remain in effect for residents of Buffalo and much of Erie County.
The U.S. National Weather Service expects snowfall in parts of Western New York State to reach 9 inches on the 27th.
The White House said in a statement that President Biden declared a federal state of emergency in New York State on the 26th, authorizing the federal government to provide disaster relief. Western New York was hit by a snowstorm last month as 11 counties declared a state of emergency, with South Buffalo hardest hit.