Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Americans to stay safe ahead of Winter Storm Fern, which is set to hit the Northeast, Midwest, and parts of the South this weekend.
“This weekend the United States will experience a severe winter storm,” Noem said in a new video released by DHS. “I ask that all of you stay ready, stay alert, and prepare accordingly.”
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Noem said the storm is capable of producing heavy snow, dangerous freezing rain, and life-threatening windshields. She also warned of possible power outages and road closures.
Some states have already seen snowfall, with Arkansas and Kansas reporting up to 6 inches as of Saturday, 8 a.m. CT, according to the National Weather Service.
Snowfall in the D.C. metro area is expected to start around 10 p.m. on Saturday, with the heaviest snowfall expected midday Sunday. Early reports predict D.C. will get seven to 14 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Noem encouraged people to stay off the roads for their safety and to clear the roads for emergency services.
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She urged people to stay up-to-date with local announcements about the storm.
“Stay alert by keeping up with local announcements from the state, the local, and the federal agencies and stay prepared,” Noem said.
Noem directed people in the path of the storm to visit ready.gov for more information on the storm
Attached to the video posted on X, Noem said she is in contact with state and local officials in the areas expected to get hit by the storm.
“I am in contact with the state and local officials in the path of the storm,” she wrote on X. “Federal emergency management is positioned to effectively respond and provide aid across the affected areas.”
President Donald Trump has also assured Americans that the federal government is ready to respond to the snowstorm.
“I have been briefed on the Record Cold Wave and Historic Winter Storm that will be hitting much of the United States this weekend. The Trump Administration is coordinating with State and Local Officials. FEMA is fully prepared to respond. Stay Safe and Stay Warm! President DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
As of Saturday morning, more than 9,000 flights across the U.S. have been canceled.
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and at least 18 governors have already declared state of emergency declarations in preparation for the storm.
The states include Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Delaware.
