Emiratis told to be cautious as 20 US states declare emergency

HOUSTON: The UAE Consulate in Houston has advised UAE citizens residing in the United States to remain vigilant in light of the anticipated significant drop in temperatures in Houston.

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It stressed the need to follow safety guidelines provided by local authorities, utilize the emergency hotlines at [phone] or [phone], and ensure registration with the Tawajudi service.

A major winter storm brought hazardous conditions to a wide swath of the United States on Sunday, from Texas to New England, prompting warnings to stay off roads, along with mass flight cancellations and power outages.

At least 20 states and the US capital Washington have declared states of emergency.

Calling the storms “historic,” President Donald Trump on Saturday approved federal emergency disaster declarations in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. “We will continue to monitor, and stay in touch with all States in the path of this storm. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

As the storm dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain across the wide expanse, officials warned that an arctic air mass behind the system would see temperatures fall dangerously low for days, prolonging disruptions to daily life.

“The snow/sleet impacts will linger well into next week with rounds of refreezing that keeps surfaces icy and dangerous to both drive and walk on for the foreseeable future,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said.