Millions endure record cold without power in Texas; at least 14 dead
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Texas witnessed sharp drop in temperature and freezing, with President Joe Biden declaring a state of emergency on Monday. At least 14 people have died due to extreme weather conditions since Thursday, most of them in Texas.
Meanwhile, the freeze left millions without power and oil and gas prices shot up on Tuesday.
The worst U.S. power outages affected more than 4 million homes and businesses. More than 250,000 people also lost power across parts of Appalachia, and another quarter million were without electricity following an ice storm in northwest Oregon, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility outage reports. Four million people lost power in Mexico.
Texas officials requested 60 generators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and planned to prioritize hospitals and nursing homes.
The state opened 35 shelters to more than 1,000 occupants, the agency said.
The frosty weather forced all refineries and natural gas production to shut in Texas and Oklahoma upsetting the energy industry in the largest U.S. crude-producing state.
The U.S. oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 19 cents to $59.66 per barrel while natural gas rose 7.31 percent.
The storm has also delayed the supply of Covid vaccines and appointments in some regions of the state, according to local media reports.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cautioned a possibility of rainfalls and cold temperatures in Texas this week.
