Washington: The death toll from an appalling A winter storm The Christmas Eve toll that gripped most of the United States rose to at least 61 on Thursday, officials said.
Two more deaths were reported in the western New York area that took its toll, Erie County Executive Mark Polon-Carz said. A historic stormThis brings the total number to 39.
Erie County also includes the snow-hit city of Buffalo, where most of the deaths occurred.
Of the 39 victims, 17 were found outdoors, 11 were in homes, four were in cars, four died during shoveling or falling snow and three were the result of emergency responders not being able to reach them in time, Pollon Cars said.
Nine deaths were reported in storm-related car crashes in the midwestern state of Ohio, with deaths scattered across at least a half-dozen other states.
With temperatures rising and snow melting, officials in New York had raised concerns about flooding but the county executive said “it doesn’t look like it’s going to get worse.”
“Thankfully, it looks like the flooding will be minimal,” Polone-Carz said.
He said that electricity has been restored to all residents of the county.
As Buffalo pulls itself out of a once-in-a-generation storm, Polon Carrs has slammed the city’s handling of the deal as “shameful.”
For example, the travel ban in Buffalo wasn’t issued until 9:30 a.m. Friday when many people were on their way to work.
The storm also brought unseasonably cold temperatures to states like Texas and Florida and caused chaos at airports, delaying or canceling thousands of flights.