Temperatures are slowly rising over much of the country.
By Belga
Lhe historic storm that swept through the United States during the Christmas period killed nearly sixty people. According to a revised death toll, 59 deaths have been recorded, a balance sheet revised upwards compared to the 56 killed previously reported. While the storm subsides, its impact continued to be felt in the Buffalo area.
Erie County in New York State, where the city of Buffalo is located near the border with Canada, alone accounts for 37 of the at least 59 storm-related deaths in the country, according to a new report on Wednesday.
People have died because they had no heating at home in the freezing cold, according to the authorities. Others were found dead in their cars or on the street.
At Christmas, the cold was felt to varying degrees in a large part of the country, as far as Texas and Florida, which are unaccustomed to such weather conditions. The latter improved on Wednesday, with rising temperatures.
But “as temperatures warm, we expect snow melt and possible flooding from rapid melting,” warned Mark Poloncarz, an Erie County official. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul told various local agencies to prepare for “potentially dangerous flooding.”
Water pumps, generators and sandbags were ready for distribution, including for Erie County, according to a statement. On Wednesday, the National Guard was going door to door in areas where power had not yet been restored, to make sure residents were safe, Mark Poloncarz tweeted.
The driving ban remained in effect in Buffalo.
