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Storm affecting US east coast as havoc persists in South Storm affecting US east coast as havoc persists in South
(about 4 hours later)
A huge winter storm is affecting the densely populated US north-east, after wreaking havoc in the South. A huge snow storm is blanketing the densely populated US north-east, after wreaking havoc in the South.
Across the typically mild South, more than half a million homes and businesses lack power, and thousands of flights have been cancelled.Across the typically mild South, more than half a million homes and businesses lack power, and thousands of flights have been cancelled.
The mammoth storm has affected people in about 22 states from Texas to Maine and caused at least 12 deaths. The mammoth storm has affected people in about 22 states from Texas to Maine and caused a dozen deaths.
The most crowded swathe of the US - between Washington DC and Boston - is braced for up to 8in (20cm) of snow. New York City is forecast to see up to 12in (30cm) of snow on Thursday, while Washington DC could get as much as 8in.
A band stretching from North-eastern Pennsylvania through New York State's Hudson Valley and into New England could see 10-20in of snow on Thursday, the National Weather Service warned. A band stretching from north-eastern Pennsylvania to New England could see 10-20in of snow on Thursday, the National Weather Service warned.
Airlines grounded more than 3,300 flights on Wednesday and have already cancelled at least 3,700 flights for Thursday, including more than half of those between New York and Washington, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Nearly 5,000 flights have already been cancelled on Thursday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.
Icy roadsIcy roads
The storm, described by the National Weather Service as an event of "historical proportions", leaves in its southern wake a wreckage of snapped tree limbs and power lines coated in as much as an inch of ice, motorways turned to car parks, road accidents, and residents shivering in darkened homes. While temperatures at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, rose to 17C (63F), the US was shivering in bitter cold once again.
Ironically, a celebration of winter tourism in the village of Lake Placid, New York state, was cancelled because of the storm.
The storm, described by the National Weather Service as an event of "historical proportions", brought chaos to the usually mild Deep South.
Forecasters said it was one of the worst storms to strike Atlanta, the largest city in the South, since 1973.Forecasters said it was one of the worst storms to strike Atlanta, the largest city in the South, since 1973.
President Barack Obama offered the might of the US federal government in aid, declaring a disaster in the state of South Carolina and all northern counties in Georgia. President Barack Obama declared a disaster in the state of South Carolina and all northern counties in Georgia, opening the way for federal aid.
On Wednesday evening, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said it was moving supplies, including generators, meals, water, blankets and cots to an emergency centre in Atlanta. On Wednesday evening, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was moving supplies, including generators, meals, water, blankets and cots to an emergency centre in Atlanta.
At least 12 deaths have already been blamed on the storm, including three people killed when an ambulance slid off an icy Texas road and caught fire and a man in Georgia who slipped and fell on a patch of ice. At least 12 deaths have already been blamed on the storm.
Thousands of vehicles have been backed up on snow-covered motorways around Raleigh, North Carolina, with some people abandoning their vehicles. Three people were killed when an ambulance slid off a west Texas road, flipped over and caught fire.
Soo Keith, of Raleigh, left her office shortly after mid-day, but after two hours had only driven a few miles. Meanwhile, a firefighter died when an out-of-control vehicle knocked him off an icy highway bridge in Dallas, Texas.
Ms Keith told the Associated Press news agency she eventually abandoned her vehicle and continued on foot, arriving home four hours later. A man in Georgia was killed after slipping and falling on a patch of ice.
"My face is all frozen, my glasses are all frozen, my hair is all frozen," she said. Thousands of vehicles have been stranded on snow-shrouded motorways around Raleigh, North Carolina, with some people abandoning their vehicles.
Soo Keith, of Raleigh, left her office shortly after midday, but after two hours had only driven a few miles.
She told the Associated Press news agency she eventually abandoned her vehicle and continued on foot, arriving home four hours later.
"My face is all frozen, my glasses are all frozen, my hair is all frozen," said Ms Keith.
"I know how to drive in the snow. But this storm came on suddenly and everyone was leaving work at the same time. I don't think anybody did anything wrong; the weather just hit quickly.""I know how to drive in the snow. But this storm came on suddenly and everyone was leaving work at the same time. I don't think anybody did anything wrong; the weather just hit quickly."
Residents of Georgia appeared to have heeded official warnings, with motorways in the state clear but with many people stuck at home without electric power.Residents of Georgia appeared to have heeded official warnings, with motorways in the state clear but with many people stuck at home without electric power.
"Thanks to the people of Georgia," Governor Nathan Deal said. "You have shown your character.""Thanks to the people of Georgia," Governor Nathan Deal said. "You have shown your character."
Mr Deal told those waiting for power to be restored to "be patient", saying he was hearing of "good response times" from the state's power companies.Mr Deal told those waiting for power to be restored to "be patient", saying he was hearing of "good response times" from the state's power companies.
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