President Donald Trump has surged emergency aid and resources to 10 states shortly before a winter storm is set to hit much of the Northeast and parts of the South.
“I have just approved Emergency Declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. We are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State Emergency Management teams to ensure the safety of everybody. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm!” he posted on Truth Social on Saturday.
The federal aid comes after at least 21 states declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, which has been dubbed “Winter Storm Fern.” Those include most of the states Trump mentioned, as well as Alabama, Delaware, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser also declared a state of emergency on Friday.
The storm has already hit parts of the southcentral United States, with snow and ice in New Mexico and northern Texas. Widespread power outages were reported in both Texas and Louisiana as a result.
It is moving eastward and is expected to batter the Southeast and Northeast with heavy snow and ice accumulation late Saturday into Sunday. Washington, D.C., alone, is set to be hit with anywhere from 5 inches to 12 inches of snowfall.
NOEM TELLS AMERICANS TO STAY ‘ALERT’ AHEAD OF MASSIVE WEEKEND SNOW STORM
Officials have been urging the nearly 200 million people affected by the winter storm to stay home for the weekend.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a video address on Friday telling the public to “stay ready, stay alert, and prepare accordingly.”
