Prolonged power outages across parts of the South are colliding with boil-water advisories, leaving some households unable to make tap water safe to drink.
In Gravestown, Mississippi, volunteer firefighters have been conducting wellness checks and delivering water and other supplies to residents still without electricity after an historic storm of heavy snow and ice. James and Heather Albertson sat around a gas heater with their daughter and four-year-old granddaughter; a boil notice remains in effect, but without power they cannot boil water and were told their electricity could be out for up to 10 more days. They said they had no other option.
About 36,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi entered a second week without power as crews continued repairs. A sustained cold snap and widespread damage to power lines and utility poles have delayed restoration work. In Oxford, crews from Northeast Mississippi Power have been cutting through downed trees to reach neighborhoods and repair lines; more than 7,000 customers there remained without service.
The outages are part of a broader regional crisis. Hard-hit Nashville experienced its largest outage on record, with a peak of more than 230,000 customers affected. Thousands remain without power, and a newly formed city commission is investigating Nashville Electric Service’s handling of the response.
Officials stress that restoring electricity is life-saving work. Nationwide, more than 100 people have died since the storm began, including individuals who froze to death. Utility crews and local volunteers have been delivering water and food and checking on elderly and medically vulnerable residents.
Forecasters warned of ongoing hazardous conditions. Snow was reported in parts of the Ohio River Valley while rain reached areas of Mississippi. A brief warm-up with rain could melt some snow in spots, but another Arctic blast from Canada was forecast to bring colder temperatures and new snow to parts of the Northeast later in the week. Overnight lows could drop into the teens and single digits across far-northeastern areas, increasing exposure risks for those still without heat or power.
Local officials urged people to use warming centers and follow guidance from health and utility authorities. If residents cannot boil water because of a loss of power, they were advised to use bottled water or seek help from local distribution points until water and electrical systems are restored.