Severe weather hitting much of U.S.
Residents in multiple states find themselves at the mercy of both fire and ice.
CNN-As the nation battles extreme weather conditions, residents in multiple states find themselves at the mercy of both fire and ice. A critical fire danger has re-emerged in Texas and the Southwest, following this week’s evacuations in parts of Texas and Tennessee. Wildfires continue to rage, forcing residents to evacuate their homes. “It was just pitch smoke. Like, everything was hard to see,” said Spencer Nixon-Rattlingourd, a Texas wildfire evacuee, recalling the experience.
Meanwhile, a powerful winter storm—one of near-record strength—is making its exit from the U.S., but not before leaving devastation in its path. Severe thunderstorms in Mississippi have claimed at least three lives, while Nebraska’s winter weather has resulted in two additional fatalities.
Across the Midwest, communities are struggling to recover from blizzard conditions that buried towns under thick blankets of snow. “I totally got stuck by the snow, and I’m trying to remove snow, so it’s kind of ironic, right?” said landscaper Ryan Blaszczak, summing up the challenges many are facing.
However, not everyone is lamenting the winter blast. For some, it’s an opportunity to create cherished memories. “I got the laptop at home, but I shut that. Come outside, and make a magic moment with her,” said Justin, a father from Minnesota, as he enjoyed the snow with his daughter.
As one storm departs, another moves in. A new system brewing over the Great Basin is set to bring rain and snow to multiple states. In Los Angeles County, Sierra Madre residents are under evacuation warnings due to the risk of mudslides. The area remains saturated from recent rainfall, and last month’s storms have left debris basins clogged, raising fears of another disaster. “There will be mud again,” said resident Steve Nestlerode. Others, like Elizabeth Truman, remember all too well the destruction caused by previous storms. “It just washed all the soil away from underneath our house,” she recalled, highlighting the vulnerability of many homes in the region.
