Winter Freeze

Dropping temperatures cause nationwide disasters

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A lineman works on a power transmission line in McAlester, Oklahoma, on January 16, 2007. (Photo: Kevin Harvison/McAlester News-Capital/AP Images)

January 17, 2007

Thousands of people across the country battled freezing conditions on Wednesday after a winter storm that left 55 people dead in nine states. More than 300,000 homes and businesses were still left without power on Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, more bad weather is expected in several regions.

"There are a lot of places where virtually everything is destroyed," said Stan Whiteford of Public Service Company of Oklahoma. "In some cases, entire electric services will have to be rebuilt."

On Sunday, Oklahoma was declared a major disaster area, which makes the state eligible to receive federal aid. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry planned to visit the hard-hit areas of the state on Wednesday, where 92,000 homes and businesses were still without power.

Hundreds across the country sought out emergency shelters. Residents of McAlester, Oklahoma, found protection from the winter chill at a local church. Among them were Tara Guzman and her four children, who camped out there while playing board games.

“If it wasn't for the shelter, I don't know where we'd be," Guzman told CNN.

Across the country, serious disruptions, including widespread electrical outages, left thousands doing what they could to keep warm in dark, unheated homes. In Washington state, snow caused traffic jams and more than 380,000 school closures.

Counties across Missouri, where 163,000 homes and businesses were without electrical power, were also placed on the federal disaster list on Tuesday.

In Michigan, 24,000 customers were reportedly still in the dark on Wednesday. Thousands in New York State and New Hampshire also lost electricity.

Travelers in Texas were dealt a blow when a 300-mile stretch of Interstate 10 running through the state was closed. As motels along the Interstate began to fill up, a number of motorists found shelter in a convention center in Ozona, Texas.

California Crops

The freezing weather is a big problem for many farms in California. The icy weather reportedly destroyed as much as 75 percent of the state’s $1 billion citrus-crop. California is the top producer of fresh citrus in the United States.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on the federal government for disaster assistance.

"This is not just about the crop this year. It could also have a devastating effect next year," said Schwarzenegger. "My administration will make sure that we do everything we can to help the farmers and workers get through this."

Weather Watch: Winter Storms

How much do you know about winter storms? Visit this special report to learn all about severe weather.

 

Critical Thinking Question

Read today's news story, and then answer the following question.

Winter Freeze What kind of problems can result from power outages?

Join a discussion of this question on our bulletin board.

 

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