A surge of snow and subfreezing temperatures sweeping from the Upper Midwest into the Northeast and parts of the South has left millions of Americans facing dangerous, early-season cold. The freeze is pushing up energy use and utility bills at a time when many households are already stretched by rent and food costs, and local crisis and nonprofit agencies say demand for help is rising sharply.
In Iowa City, nonprofit Community Crisis Services and other local groups are preparing for what CEO Sarah Nelson describes as a ‘tsunami of need.’ With overnight lows dropping to about 1°F in parts of the state, centers report more people showing up for assistance with heating, shelter and basic supplies.
The weather has produced hazardous conditions around the country. In Virginia a state trooper pulled a driver from a burning vehicle after a crash during heavy snow. Western New York was hit with a storm that dumped more than two feet of snow across Highmark Stadium, and western states such as Colorado faced icy roads and stalled traffic. Health officials warn that at extremely low temperatures, frostbite can set in within minutes.
CBS News correspondent Lana Zak spoke with Jimmy Tag, who said he has been living out of his car in Iowa City with his dog. When his heater failed, community shelters and crisis centers stepped in to help, providing warmth and supplies that Tag says likely prevented worse outcomes for him and other people without reliable heat.
Agencies across affected regions are asking residents to donate blankets, coats, hats, nonperishable food and funds that can be used to offset higher utility bills for people who can’t afford them. Many nonprofits are mobilizing volunteers, preparing warming centers and coordinating with local governments to expand options for those without adequate heat or shelter.
Officials urge simple safety measures: limit time outdoors when temperatures are dangerously low, wear layered clothing and protect hands and feet, check on elderly or medically vulnerable neighbors, and seek shelter or community aid if home heating is insufficient. Local crisis centers and shelters remain primary points of contact for people in immediate need as the cold snap continues.