90 million Americans under extreme cold warnings after winter storm

Nearly 90 million Americans remained under extreme cold watches or warnings on Jan. 26, 2026, following a weekend winter storm that brought snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures to much of the eastern United States. The National Weather Service issued warnings for states from the Midwest through the Southeast and up the East Coast.

Hundreds of thousands of people were without power across multiple states on Jan. 26 as ice and snow damaged power lines. Utility companies worked to restore power, but extreme cold and continued weather made repairs difficult. Some areas faced extended outages lasting multiple days.

FEMA activated federal emergency management resources to coordinate with state and local authorities on winter storm response. FEMA's role includes providing emergency supplies, coordinating federal assistance, and helping states manage shelters for people displaced by power outages. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem oversees FEMA operations.

The winter storm delayed Senate proceedings, with the Senate moving its Jan. 26 votes to Jan. 27. The cloture vote on the Pregnant Students' Rights Act (S. 3627) was moved from Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. to Jan. 27 at the same time. The storm created a tighter timeline for the Jan. 30 government funding deadline.

Extreme cold poses health risks including frostbite and hypothermia. People without power or adequate heating face life-threatening conditions, especially elderly individuals, young children, and people with medical conditions. Local authorities opened warming centers to provide shelter and heat for residents without power.

The federal government's role in emergency management is defined by the Stafford Act, which authorizes FEMA to coordinate federal disaster relief. State governors request federal disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources. The president approves or denies these requests based on FEMA's assessment of the disaster's severity.