U.S. Death Toll Rises to 21 as Arctic Blast Freezes the Nation; Trump Administration Activates Emergency Power Measures

The death toll from the brutal winter storm ravaging the U.S. has reached at least 21 people across 12 states, with officials warning of life-threatening cold for over 200 million residents. Massive power outages have left nearly 560,000 homes in the dark, prompting the Trump administration to authorize emergency backup generators for the East Coast grid to prevent a total energy collapse as temperatures plunge below zero.

Travel remains in a state of chaos, with more than 18,000 flights canceled since Monday. While the storm moves toward the coast, record-breaking lows are expected in the Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley by Wednesday morning. The widespread disruption has turned the "Great Freeze of 2026" into a dual humanitarian and infrastructure crisis, testing the nation’s emergency response at every level.