Trump Approves Emergency Declarations For 12 States Ahead Of Massive Winter Storm

President Donald J. Trump has moved swiftly to protect American families as a powerful winter storm barrels across the nation, approving emergency declarations for an additional 10 states and bringing the total to 12 states now covered by federal emergency action.

The states included under the president’s emergency declarations are Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, and South Carolina.

“I have just approved Emergency Declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State Emergency Management teams to ensure the safety of everybody. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm!”

The president’s action came as forecasters warned the storm was intensifying, with heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain threatening large portions of the country. Earlier Saturday, Trump had already approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia as the storm system pushed eastward.

Emergency declarations temporarily lift certain federal spending restrictions, enabling state governments to act quickly, deploy resources, and request assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The move underscores the administration’s emphasis on rapid response, coordination with governors, and public safety during severe weather events.

At least 20 states have now declared their own states of emergency in response to the storm. Those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In Louisiana, where icy conditions and plunging temperatures arrived early, approximately 50,000 customers were without power Saturday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. Utility officials warned that worsening weather could lead to additional outages as the storm progresses.

Forecasters cautioned that conditions were expected to deteriorate later Saturday and into Sunday as the storm moved farther east, CNN reported.

In Northeast Texas, thousands of residents were left in the dark as freezing rain and ice accumulated across the region. More than 7,000 homes and businesses in the Dallas–Fort Worth area lost electricity Saturday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

Oncor, the Dallas-based electric utility, said crews were working aggressively to restore power but cautioned that new outages were likely as ice continued to build on power lines and equipment.

“New outage events are likely as freezing rain and ice accumulation is expected to increase,” the company said in a statement.

Oncor also emphasized that ice buildup poses the greatest threat to electric service, noting that fluctuating temperatures can cause repeated thawing and refreezing—conditions that significantly increase the risk of downed lines and equipment failures.

Farther east, tens of thousands of customers near the Louisiana and Oklahoma borders remained without power late Saturday. More than 30 percent of customers in Shelby County and nearly 40 percent in Panola County were affected, according to outage data.

Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative reported that utility crews had been dispatched to repair damaged lines and restore service as weather conditions permit.

In New Jersey, state officials announced sweeping transportation shutdowns ahead of the storm’s arrival. New Jersey’s commuter rail system will cease operations at 2 p.m. Sunday, while all bus and light rail services will be suspended for the entire day, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday afternoon.

“You need to be on a train getting to where you need to go by 2, because then things are shutting down,” Sherrill said at a news conference.

State officials said service will resume only after roadways and rail lines are deemed safe following inspections on Sunday. The New Jersey Department of Transportation also announced a 35-mile-per-hour speed limit on all major highways and interstates beginning Sunday.

Across the affected regions, officials continue to urge residents to limit travel, prepare for prolonged power outages, and closely follow local emergency guidance as the storm continues its path across the country.