Winter Ice Could Humble the United States
Snow, “we can handle,” one official said. Ice is another story.
TL;DR
- The eastern half of the United States is experiencing a major winter storm with warnings for snow, ice, and extreme cold.
- More than half of the people in the lower 48 states are expected to be affected by some combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
- Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. have declared states of emergency.
- The storm's impact is compared to a hurricane in terms of potential power outages and wind damage.
- Regions with ice-storm warnings are advised to prepare for ice accumulation similar to hurricane preparedness.
- The power grid is vulnerable to ice, which can add significant weight to power lines and cause outages.
- Winterizing power systems is expensive, and many areas lack the funds for such projects.
- Ice can also affect power line functionality even if they don't break, requiring linemen to physically remove ice.
- Restoring power can be slowed by ice making it difficult for utility crews to access damaged lines.
- Delayed power restoration is concerning, especially for homes not insulated or prepped for cold weather.
- Thousands of flights have been canceled, and driving on ice-slicked roads is dangerous.