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Re: MORE Deaths as Blizzard of The Century Grips Canada & US
US Braces for More Deaths as Blizzard of The Century Grips Nation
US Winter Storm Traps New York State Residents in Cars
The storm stretching from Canada to the Mexican border has killed 56 people.
Rescue crews struggle to reach stranded residents in Buffalo, New York, where dozens have been killed in winter storms
BBC 27 DEC 2022
At least 28 people have died in western New York State, most of them in Buffalo, as a monster winter storm continues to batter North America.
A state official said some people had been trapped in cars for more than two days during what was "probably" the worst storm of their lifetime.
Up to nine more inches (23cm) of snow are expected in parts of the state through Tuesday, meteorologists warn.
US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration allowing federal support for New York State. "My heart is with those who lost loved ones this holiday weekend," he tweeted.
Mark Poloncarz, the executive for Erie County where Buffalo is located, said: "We can see sort of the light at the end of the tunnel, but this is not the end yet."
"It's a generational storm," he said, warning that the county was yet to begin assessing the "full toll".
Officials fear that more storm victims will be found in the next few days
Emergency vehicles have been struggling to reach some worst-hit areas in New York State
Citing the local medical examiner's office, Mr Poloncarz said many of the victims had died from heart problems while shovelling or blowing snow. Some were found dead in their vehicles.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, earlier said: "It is [like] going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking."
She added that many emergency vehicles had been unable to reach worst-hit areas or had got stuck in snow themselves.
They fled south to escape winter. The storm still found them
How to stay safe in a winter storm
One local family with young children - aged two to six - had to wait for 11 hours before being rescued in the early hours of Christmas Day (Sunday).
"I was basically just hopeless," the father, Zila Santiago, told CBS News. He said he had managed to stay warm by keeping the engine running and kept distress at bay by playing games with the children.
More victims are expected to be discovered once melting snowdrifts reveal trapped vehicles and allow access to remote homes.
The "bomb cyclone" winter storm - which occurs when atmospheric pressure plummets, causing heavy snow and winds - has disrupted travel across the US.
Forecasters say it will ease off in the next few days, but the advice remains to avoid travelling unless essential.
Media caption,
Thaw on the way to US cold spots
Over the weekend an estimated 250,000 homes and businesses experienced blackouts - although power has been steadily restored.
Storm-related deaths were also reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Colorado. South Florida's temperatures dropped so low, that iguanas froze and fell from trees.
The western US state of Montana was the worst hit by the cold, with temperatures dropping to -50F (-45C).
In Canada, the central province of Ontario and Quebec, in the north-east, bore the brunt of the storm.
Ontario's Prince Edward County, along Lake Ontario, declared a state of emergency and had to take snow ploughs off the streets because they were in danger of getting stuck, Mayor Steve Ferguson told CBC News.
A snow-covered house and a car in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada.
More snow was expected in parts of Ontario on Tuesday
A number of vehicles are reported to have been trapped in snow.
Four fatalities earlier occurred when a bus rolled over on an icy road near the town of Merritt, in the western province of British Columbia.
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