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Almost a week after a generational winter storm that hit Texas and other southern states, warmer weather finally brought welcome relief on Saturday.
Fox News meteorologist Rick Reichmuth said temperatures in the south “were rising to typical levels or a few degrees above average at the start of the week.”
“A major warming is underway, and temperatures will be in the 60s by now [Sunday]”, he said.” This will quickly melt the snow and ice and allow the cleanup to begin. “
Despite a return to somewhat normal temperatures, the state of the one star is just beginning to cope with the storm’s fallout, as millions of people are still on boil water advisories and officials are working to restore electricity and clean water for residents.
A woman wrapped in a blanket crosses the street near downtown Dallas on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Temperatures dropped to single digits as snow cut air travel and grocery stores. (Photo AP / LM Otero)
(Associated press)
TEXAS HOSPITALS DEALT WINTER WEATHER BLOW SCRAMBLE FOR CLEANING PATIENT WATER
President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a major disaster for 77 of Texas’ 254 counties, which will make federal funding available to help with the cleanup.
“While this partial approval is an important first step, Texas will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure all eligible Texans have access to the relief they need,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Saturday.
Power was back for most Texans on Saturday as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said on Friday it was lifting emergency conditions and returning to normal operations.
Despite this, about 300,000 people were still without power in the south on Saturday, most of them concentrating in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
TEXAS FACING THE WATER CRISIS, TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB AFTER STORMS, A DEADLY DEEP FREEZE
Texans who had electricity over the past week could face surprisingly high utility bills as energy prices skyrocketed during the storm.
Senator Tina Smith, D-Minn., Sent a letter to federal energy agencies on Saturday, urging them to investigate the natural gas surge as a possible price increase, reports The Associated Press.
As electricity and water come back online, many Texans are still struggling to find food.
Volunteers distribute food and water at a San Antonio Food Bank drive-thru food distribution site held at Rackspace Technology on Friday, February 19, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo / Eric Gay)
Food banks, private restaurants and the military are now struggling to meet the growing demand for food in the wake of the storm.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., traveled to Texas and raised over $ 3 million for the Houston Food Bank.
About half of the more than 70 deaths attributed to the storm were in Texas. The causes include hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and car accidents.
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Biden says he plans to visit Texas next week, although the timing is uncertain.
“I had planned to be in Texas early next week, but I don’t want to be a burden. When the president lands in a city in America, he has a long tail,” Biden said Friday. “If in fact it is concluded that I can do it without creating a burden, I plan to continue.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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