At least 28 people have died, most of them in Buffalo, as a result of a severe winter storm that is still inflicting devastation throughout North America.
According to a state official, numerous individuals were trapped in their cars for more than two days during what was "probably" the worst storm of their lives.
In certain parts of the state, up to nine additional inches (23 cm) of snow are expected on Tuesday, according to meteorologists.
From Canada, the storm has made its way to Mexico.
US President Joe Biden gave his approval to a declaration of disaster authorizing government help for New York State. "My heart is with those who lost loved ones this holiday weekend," he said in a tweet.
Additionally, emergency personnel from the nearby state of New Jersey were sent to New York to assist.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, called the storm "the snowfall of the century."
It seems like you're entering a conflict zone with all the cars parked along the sides of the roads.
She went on to warn that many rescue vehicles were either trapped in the snow themselves or were unable to reach the worst-affected districts.
They relocated south to get out of the cold. Nevertheless, the storm found them.
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In addition to searching for remains in snow banks and cars, emergency personnel were allegedly inspecting vehicles for storm survivors.
To warn individuals that excessive effort from shoveling snow might result in heart attacks or back problems, Buffalo State published the "Shovel Smart" warning. The executive of Erie County, where Buffalo is situated, Mark Poloncarz, said that other people passed away from cardiac arrest while clearing snow.
In the early hours of Christmas Day, a local family with small children had to wait 11 hours before being saved. The kids were between the ages of two and six (Sunday).
"I felt very hopeless," the father, Zila Santiago, told CBS News. He said that he was able to remain warm by keeping the engine running and that the kids' nervousness was reduced by playing games with them.
According to Ditjak Ilunga of Gaithersburg, Maryland, who spoke to CBS News, he and his children were on their way to Hamilton, Ontario to see relatives when their SUV became trapped in Buffalo.
He spent hours with the engine running and in desperation decided to endure the ferocious storm to seek a nearby shelter.
He carried his Pomeranian dog, six-year-old Destiny on his back, and sixteen-year-old Cindy in her arms as he followed his tracks in the snow drifts.
If I remain in this vehicle, I'm going to die here with my kids, Mr. Ilunga recalled thinking.
He said that he cried as the family passed through the doors of the refuge. He vowed that he would never forget it in his whole life.
According to a small business owner in East Buffalo who requested anonymity, his general shop was broken into on Christmas Day.
"It was all stolen. Speakers, gadgets, and toys were taken "said he.
He estimated that up to $50,000 (£41,000) worth of equipment was stolen. He stated that once he called the police, they told him they were "too busy saving the elderly."
Although we can sort of make out the light at the end of the tunnel, Mr. Poloncarz claims that this is far from the end.
It's a generational storm, he said.
The "bomb cyclone" winter storm, which arises when air pressure decreases and results in high winds and heavy snowfall, has impeded travel throughout the US.
Nearly 4,000 US flights were canceled on Monday, according to flight monitoring website Flightaware.com.
It is advised that you remain indoors even if weather experts believe that the terrible weather will pass during the following several days.
A rough estimate of 250,000 households and businesses lost power throughout the weekend, despite the steady restoration of electricity.
In addition, storm-related deaths were reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Colorado. In South Florida, the freezing weather caused iguanas to freeze and fall off trees.
The western US state of Montana was the most impacted, with temperatures dropping below -50F. (-45C).
The storm was most severe in Canada's eastern province of Quebec and its central state of Ontario.
Prince Edward County in Ontario, which is close to Lake Ontario, proclaimed a state of emergency and had to pull snow plows off the roadways because they were in danger of being stranded, according to Mayor Steve Ferguson.
Four people lost their lives when a bus overturned on an icy road in the town of Merritt in the western province of British Columbia.
