At least 28 people have died in western New York state, most of them in Buffalo, as a monster winter storm continues to batter North America.
A state official said some people had been trapped in cars
for more than two days during what was "probably" the worst storm of
their lifetime.
Up to nine more inches (23cm) of snow are expected in parts
of the state on Tuesday, meteorologists warn.
LOOKING
FOR A STUNNING VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE? CHECK OUT THIS
The storm - stretching from Canada to Mexico - has killed 56
people in total.
US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration
allowing federal support for New York State. "My heart is with those who
lost loved ones this holiday weekend," he tweeted.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, described
the storm as "the blizzard of the century".
"It is [like] going to a war zone, and the vehicles
along the sides of the roads are shocking."
LOOKING
FOR A STUNNING VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE? CHECK OUT THIS
She added that many emergency vehicles had been unable to
reach worst-hit areas or had got stuck in snow themselves.
One local family with young children - aged two to six - had
to wait for 11 hours before being rescued in the early hours of Christmas Day
(Sunday).
"I was basically just hopeless," the father, Zila Santiago, told CBS News. He said he managed to stay warm by keeping the engine running, and kept distress at bay by playing games with the children.
LET
YOUR KIDS FALL IN LOVE WITH SCIENCE
Ditjak Ilunga from Gaithersburg, Maryland, told CBS News he
was on his way to visit relatives in Hamilton, Ontario, with his daughters when
their SUV was trapped in Buffalo.
After spending hours with the engine running he made the
desperate choice to risk the howling storm to reach a nearby shelter.
He carried six-year-old Destiny on his back while
16-year-old Cindy clutched their Pomeranian puppy, and followed his footprints
in the snow drifts.
LET
YOUR KIDS FALL IN LOVE WITH SCIENCE
"If I stay in this car I'm going to die here with my
kids," Mr Ilunga recalled thinking.
He said he cried when the family walked through the shelter
doors. "It's something I will never forget in my life," he said.
Meanwhile, the owner of a small family-run shop in East
Buffalo, who didn't want to be named, said looters broke into his general store
on Christmas Day.
DOWNLOAD
THE LEADING VIDEO CONFERENCING AND WEBINAR APP
He estimated up to $50,000 (£41,000) worth of equipment was
stolen. He said he called the police, "but they told me they were too busy
rescuing the elderly".
Mark Poloncarz, the executive for Erie County where Buffalo
is located, said: "We can see sort of the light at the end of the tunnel,
but this is not the end yet."
DOWNLOAD
THE LEADING VIDEO CONFERENCING AND WEBINAR APP
"It's a generational storm," he added.
Citing the local medical examiner's office, Mr Poloncarz
said many of the victims died from heart problems while shovelling or blowing
snow. Some were found dead in their vehicles.
More victims are expected to be discovered once melting
snowdrifts reveal trapped vehicles and allow access to remote homes.
The "bomb cyclone" winter storm - which occurs
when atmospheric pressure plummets, causing heavy snow and winds - has
disrupted travel across the US.
GROW YOUR
ONLINE BUSINESS WITH THIS POWERFUL PLATFORM
–
Forecasters say bad weather will ease in the next few days,
but the advice remains to avoid travelling.
Over the weekend an estimated 250,000 homes and businesses
experienced blackouts - although power has been steadily restored.
Storm-related deaths were also reported in Vermont, Ohio,
Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Colorado. South Florida's temperatures dropped
so low, that iguanas froze and fell from trees.
GROW YOUR
ONLINE BUSINESS WITH THIS POWERFUL PLATFORM
The western US state of Montana was the worst hit by the
cold, with temperatures dropping to -50F (-45C).
In Canada, the central province of Ontario and Quebec, in
the north-east, bore the brunt of the storm.
Ontario's Prince Edward County, along Lake Ontario, declared
a state of emergency and had to take snow ploughs off the streets because they
were in danger of getting stuck, Mayor Steve Ferguson told CBC News.
Four fatalities earlier occurred when a bus rolled over on
an icy road near the town of Merritt, in the western province of British
Columbia.
0 comments:
Post a Comment