Trump declares emergency in ten states over winter storm

US President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for ten states across the Southeast late Saturday afternoon as the impact of a powerful winter storm continues to affect wide areas of the country, according to WAM.

In a post on the Truth Social platform, the president said the emergency declarations cover Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and West Virginia.

Trump said the administration was working closely with governors and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of ongoing preparations to address the repercussions of the storm.

Earlier on Saturday, the president approved emergency declarations for other states in the storm’s path, including South Carolina and Virginia. Emergency declarations temporarily eliminate some spending barriers, allowing state governments to more rapidly supply resources and appeal for federal aid.

At least 20 states have declared a state of emergency: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Around 120,000 power outages were reported in the path of the winter storm on Saturday, including about 50,000 each in Texas and Louisiana.

The streets are ployed during a winter storm Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma. AP

The storm also led to the cancellation of around 13,000 flights across the United States on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the Independent, travel delays continued on Saturday as the storm travelled from the Southern Rockies toward the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service. School. Office closures were reported across the country while residents prepared for the storm.

Several states expected to face heavy snowfall, ice and freezing temperatures. Wind chills were predicted to drop to temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45 degrees Celsius) in some states.

Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, were forecast to see up to a foot of snow, according to the service. Major East Coast cities, including Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C., were predicted to also see 12 inches or more.

Tree damage from widespread ice accumulation — leading to possible widespread power outages — were predicted to produce “extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions,” according to the service.

Emergency declarations were in effect in some communities, and empty grocery store shelves were reported as residents stocked up for the storm.

Agencies