China News Service, February 21st, a comprehensive report. Recently, Texas and other southern regions in the United States have encountered rare winter storms and severe cold. A large number of residents have experienced "dark moments" when water and power are cut off. President Biden has approved Texas to enter a major disaster. status.

Although the electricity of many households has been restored, they are still facing a new crisis of drinking water shortage.

On the other hand, meteorological experts said that the disaster incident showed that the United States and its infrastructure were not fully prepared for extreme weather events.

On February 19, local time, due to the power outage and water outage caused by the winter storm, many supermarkets in Houston, Texas, USA experienced shortages of drinking water, meat products and other commodities.

The picture shows a shortage of smoked meat products in a HEB supermarket in Houston.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zeng Jingning

Biden:

Texas enters a state of major disaster

　　After a week of severe cold and winter storms, the severely affected Texas entered a state of major disaster.

On the 20th local time, the White House said in a statement: "On the 19th, President Biden announced a major disaster statement in Texas and ordered the federal government to provide more assistance to help areas affected by severe winter storms return to normal."

　　According to reports, the major disaster statement will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide more resources and assistance, including temporary housing and repair grants, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and other projects to help communities recover.

　　Biden said he had two conversations with Texas Governor Greg Albert this week.

According to the White House statement, Biden also talked to Bob Fenton, Acting Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on the afternoon of the 19th, instructing him to "mobilize other federal agencies to provide more support to the people of Texas and ensure that any Key requirements".

　　Biden also told reporters on the 19th that he plans to travel to the disaster-stricken Texas, but he must do so when his visit does not create a resource "burden" for the state.

On February 18, local time, people took a rest in the shelter after a power outage in Plano, Texas, USA due to winter weather.

A new crisis ensued: water shortage

　　In the past few days, Texas has been hit by sub-freezing cold and winter storms. The surge in electricity demand has caused widespread power outages across the state, affecting millions of homes and businesses.

According to the Associated Press, electricity in many residents’ homes has been restored, but problems such as drinking water and broken pipes still have to be solved.

　　Record-breaking low temperatures caused water pipes to rupture, resulting in a shortage of clean drinking water, and hospitals were unable to maintain sanitary conditions.

　　In Texas, as many as 7 million people are required to boil water before drinking tap water because low water pressure may allow bacteria to infiltrate the tap water system.

　　In Jackson, Mississippi, most of the city with a population of 161,000 does not have running water.

　　In addition, due to water pressure issues, Memphis International Airport cancelled all flights in and out of the airport on the 19th.

Meteorological experts: lack of planning has led to cold "disaster"

　　However, the fatal freeze in the United States this week is not surprising.

　　Meteorologists foresaw its arrival nearly three weeks in advance.

They issued a warning two weeks in advance and talked with officials.

　　However, the disaster still happened.

This winter storm disaster has killed at least 20 people and millions of households have experienced "dark moments" of power outages.

　　Meteorologists and disaster experts said the incident showed that the United States and its infrastructure were not fully prepared for extreme weather events.