SIXTEENTH state declares emergency over Arctic Blast as authorities warn blackouts will lengthen chaos – Live updates

Delaware became the sixteenth state to declare a state of emergency late on Friday evening ahead of the weekend’s winter storm.

The state joined 15 others and the US capital Washington DC in doing so, as millions across the country are set to be hit with the blast.

Governor Matthew Meyer said: ‘Delawareans should always feel secure in their communities, especially during severe winter weather.

‘That’s why I’m declaring a State of Emergency in Delaware, starting Sunday morning.

Please prepare while you can, avoid being on the roads once the storm begins, and listen to your state and local officials for the latest information and safety warnings.

‘Together, let’s make sure every Delawarean stays safe and warm this weekend.’

Over 7,000 flights have been cancelled this weekend, according to data compiled by FlightAware.

As of Friday night, 3,240 flights were cancelled scheduled for Saturday, with 3,066 of them within, into, or out of the US.

American Airlines canceled the most flights out of any airline company, canceling over 800 flights.

Dallas-Fort Worth was the most impacted airport, with 73 percent of outgoing flights canceled on Saturday and 69 percent of incoming flights canceled.

Flights were drastically impacted on Sunday, with 4,703 cancellations. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was the most impacted.

The Department of Homeland Security’s human resources department reportedly informed employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency that cuts have been paused to accommodate the impending storm, the Washington Post reported.

The outlet had previously reported that FEMA was planning to fire disaster response and recovery workers in waves.

On Thursday, around 30 disaster workers were reportedly informed that their jobs wouldn’t be renewed with the organization, only for human resources to backtrack later in the day.

On Wednesday, FEMA cut around 85 local hires, some of whom were working on Hurricane Helene recovery projects in North Carolina.

Within the last two months, FEMA has lost over 100 workers due to terminations.

DHS said in a statement to the Post that staffers with the Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) program are employed in term-limited positions that fluctuate based on disaster activity and need.

Homeland Security officials reportedly told the Federal Emergency Management Agency to avoid using phrasing such as ‘watch out for ice’ amid nationwide calls to stop raids from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Two sources familiar with the memo told CNN that federal officials were concerned that the messaging could be confusing or spark memes.

‘If FEMA says, “Keep off the roads if you see ice,” it would be easy for the public to meme it,’ one of CNN’s souces said

‘I think it’s a dangerous precedent to set. If we can’t use clear language to help prepare Americans, then people may be left vulnerable and could suffer.’

A FEMA spokesperson slammed the report in a statement to CNN, calling it a ‘desperate ploy for clickbait.’

‘FEMA will use correct and accurate descriptors of weather conditions to communicate clearly to the American people,’ the statement added.

At least 172 million Americans are under a winter storm warning through Sunday.

Take a look at the key phrases below to understand what the warnings in your area mean, per FEMA.

• Winter Weather Advisory – Hazardous conditions are expected
• Winter Storm Watch – Severe weather is possible, and those in the alerted area should start preparing for hazardous conditins
• Winter Storm Warning – Severe weather is about to hit the alerted area, and those under the warning should immediately seek shelter

It’s easy to get overwhelmed preparing for a severe winter storm, but don’t forget to secure your home to keep your family safe.

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal if generators are not used properly.

It’s likely that many homes will lose power and have to turn to generators. Generator exhaust is toxic, so the appliance should always be outside, away from doors, windows, and vents.

Heating your home with a ‘combustion appliance’ like a gas stove, oven, or dryer can also be extremely dangerous.

Pipes may also burst during the freezing temperatures, so it’s important to check for mold buildup, which can cause or worsen health problems.

Lastly, be cautious if you’re using a fireplace or wood stove to heat your home during power outages.

Only dry, seasoned wood should be used to maintain a hot fire.

The National Weather Service has warned that heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding are hitting parts of central Texas and the Hill Country.

The alert was issued just before 10:30 pm EST. Take a look at the imagery below to see what parts of the state are impacted.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a video message on Friday night, warning Americans to ‘stay ready’ ahead of this weekend’s winter storm.

‘I ask that all of you stay ready. Stay alert, and prepare accordingly,’ she said.

Noem advised Americans to stay off the roads for their own safety and to ensure emergency vehicles have clear streets to drive on during severe winter weather.

CNN liberal contributor Bakari Sellers issued a bold message on his X account about this weekend’s winter storm.

He declared that those who didn’t believe in global warming ‘shouldn’t be allowed to vote’ in a tweet that quickly went viral.

The National Weather Service announced just after 9:30 pm EST that over 144 million Americans were under a Winter Storm Warning.

Americans across the southern Plains and Rockies to those in New England are bracing for ‘catastrophic ice accumulations’ and heavy snow that’s expected to persist throughout the weekend.

Officials in Dallas, Texas, have warned that residents may be forced to hunker down until Wednesday.

Kevin Oden, the city’s director of emergency management and crisis response, told CNN that those in the area should have enough food, medicine, and supplies for the next four or five days, adding that his team has been in ‘response mode’ since Friday afternoon.

‘We definitely don’t believe that being on the roadways, particularly over these next 48 to 72 hours, is any place for folks to be,’ he said.

Oden added that his emergency teams were keeping an eye on ‘critical infrastructure’ as the storm approached.

‘The biggest thing we’re watching is all of our critical infrastructure,’ he said.

‘We want to make sure that the power is working, people can move freely on the streets, hospitals are operating, water is flowing, all of that. If we start to see impacts to any of those systems, we’ve got contingencies in place to hopefully get those systems back online and serve our residents.’

Freezing rain has already begun in parts of Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Those in the area have been told to brace for sub-freezing temperatures that will persist late into the night.