Severe Cold Snap Strikes Eastern US, Affecting Indigenous Communities

Mon Feb 02 2026 17:18:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A deep freeze persists across the eastern United States, impacting indigenous populations and their efforts to maintain cultural ties during harsh weather conditions.

Emergency services are responding to stranded motorists as icy conditions wreak havoc on travel in Mississippi and surrounding states. With over 380,000 homes without power and at least 50 fatalities, the community is banding together to assist those affected. Indigenous communities are facing additional challenges maintaining cultural practices during this period of extreme cold.

Emergency responders are working tirelessly to clear icy highways in Mississippi, where a severe cold snap has frozen roadways, leaving many stranded.

Local officials report significant traffic snarls, particularly on Interstate 55, as community members and the Mississippi National Guard mobilize to deliver essential supplies, including food and blankets, to stranded motorists.

Gathering around cafes in small towns like Red Banks reveal a dire situation—cars abandoned on icy roads, resembling parking lots instead of highways. Residents are being urged to assist those in need by providing essential items.

This extreme weather has left over 380,000 residents without power, primarily impacting Mississippi and Tennessee. Tragically, at least 50 lives have been lost in states struck by this cold, and indigenous families are among those coping with power outages and the bitter elements.

Local hospitals in affected regions are seeing an increase in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning as families resort to dangerous heating methods due to the lack of electricity. Additionally, reports indicate children in vulnerable populations are facing hardships as they try to keep warm.

Forecasters warn that the harsh conditions may continue, with impending arctic air expected to bring even lower temperatures, reminiscent of the longest-lasting cold spell in decades.