Arctic cold snap wreaked havoc on water supply and transportation in the United States

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An Arctic cold wave has wreaked havoc on the water supply and transportation systems in the United States, from Tennessee to Texas and Florida, as well as other states not accustomed to such frigid conditions.

In Memphis, Tennessee, crews continued to work around the clock to detect and repair burst pipes that had lowered water pressure in the city. Some residents have been without water for days, and the company’s 400,000 customers have been asked to boil their water before using it.

The CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Doug McGowen, urged residents to “hold on a little bit” and “help neighbors” as restoration efforts continue.

By Saturday afternoon, the company had repaired 36 water fountains and more than 2,000 leaks in homes and businesses. However, as temperatures rise, more breaks are expected to become evident. The company asked residents to turn off all faucets once temperatures rise to help restore pressure in pipes.

Memphis residents have been urged to stay off the roads and avoid using bathrooms and showers. Some students at Rhodes College have been asked to return home or move to hotels, and classes will be held virtually on Monday and Tuesday.

The cold has also led to at least deaths in Tennessee and caused numerous water systems to advise citizens to boil water before using it.

Freezing rain, sleet, and strong winds are expected to make travel particularly difficult in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. The cold weather also affected football stadiums in western New York, where nearly two feet of snow fell last week, and in the Columbia River area on the West Coast.

While temperatures may ease somewhat in the coming days, the impact of the cold wave has been widespread and devastating. Efforts to clear snow, repair burst pipes, and restore water pressure will continue as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Arctic cold wave.