Across parts of the South, prolonged power outages are colliding with boil‑water advisories, leaving some families without a way to make their water safe to drink.
In Gravestown, Mississippi, volunteer firefighters have been doing wellness checks and delivering water and supplies to residents still without power after an historic storm brought heavy snow and ice. James and Heather Albertson sat huddled around a gas heater with their daughter and their four‑year‑old granddaughter. They said a boil notice remains in effect, but with no electricity they cannot comply — and their power could be out for another 10 days. “We don’t have a choice,” they said.
About 36,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi began a second week without electricity as crews continue repairs. A sustained cold snap and widespread damage to power lines and utility poles have delayed restoration. In Oxford, Mississippi, Northeast Mississippi Power crews are working, cutting through downed trees to reach neighborhoods and repair lines; more than 7,000 customers there were still without service.
The outages have been part of a larger regional crisis. Hard‑hit Nashville suffered its largest outage ever, with a peak of over 230,000 customers affected. With thousands still in the dark, Nashville Electric Service’s response to the storm is being investigated by a newly formed city commission seeking accountability for the utility’s handling of the event.
Officials say power restoration is life‑saving work: nationwide, more than 100 people have died since the storm began, including some who froze to death. Utility crews and local volunteers have been delivering water, food and checking on residents, especially those who are elderly or medically vulnerable.
Forecasters warned of continuing hazardous conditions. Meteorologists reported snow across parts of the Ohio River Valley, with rain into Mississippi in some areas. A warmer rain was expected briefly to melt some snow in places, but another Arctic blast was forecast to arrive from Canada later in the week, bringing colder temperatures and additional snow in parts of the Northeast. Temperatures could fall into the teens and single digits overnight across far‑northeast areas, prolonging exposure risks for those still without heat or power.
Local officials urged residents to seek help at warming centers and to follow guidance from health and utility authorities: if water must be used and cannot be boiled, seek bottled water or assistance from local distribution points until power and water systems are restored.
