Death Toll Exceeds 100 · 190 Million Affected… Energy Shock & Infrastructure Collapse
The United States is facing a meteorological disaster as Winter Storm Fern and a powerful arctic blast paralyze national systems. An unprecedented southward expansion of the Polar Vortex has turned more than half of the U.S. mainland into ice, causing massive damage accompanied by infrastructure collapse and an energy shock.
Casualties and Social Loss
As of January 28, the death toll from this event has reached at least 106. Damages were concentrated in the South, which was ill-equipped for the cold, with causes of death primarily attributed to hypothermia, accidents on icy roads, and carbon monoxide poisoning from malfunctioning heaters. Over 19,000 flights were canceled over the course of the week, marking the worst logistics paralysis since the pandemic.
Analysis of Major Damage by State
- Tennessee (TN): 14 deaths / 250,000 households without power. An “Energy Emergency” was declared statewide. The power grid suffered severe damage due to the weight of ice.
- Texas (TX): Gas production plummeted by 15%. Supply chains were paralyzed due to “freeze-offs” in Permian Basin gas pipelines. ERCOT requested industrial facilities to halt operations to prevent a power grid collapse.
- Mississippi (MS): Drinking water supply interrupted. Record-low temperatures caused massive water main breaks, leading to “Boil Water” advisories for over 80,000 residents.
- New Jersey (NJ): Up to 17 inches of snow. Northern New Jersey received heavy snowfall (approx. 43 cm). In areas like Rutherford, homes were buried in snow, and wind chill temperatures dropped to -20°F (-29°C). Thousands of households lost power, and NJ TRANSIT operated on a limited schedule.
- Florida (FL): Concerns over 40% crop damage. The coldest weather in 16 years reached Miami. Orlando recorded lows in the mid-20s (°F), and iguanas were seen falling from trees.
- Illinois (IL): Wind chill recorded at -55°F. Schools closed across Chicago. O’Hare Airport reached near-paralysis due to frozen fuel supply systems.
Florida’s Unprecedented Cold Snap
Florida, typically a warm vacation destination, also fell under the influence of its worst cold wave in 16 years. According to NWS (National Weather Service) charts, the Florida peninsula is currently in a “sub-zero intrusion” phase.
- Agricultural Emergency: A “Hard Freeze” warning was issued for Orlando and Tampa. Damage to tropical crops, including oranges, is expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Rare Phenomena: A “Falling Iguana” warning was issued in Miami as wind chills dropped to 1°F, while sleet was forecast for the northern Panhandle region.
Energy Market Shock: Wholesale Power Prices Surge 3,000%
Energy prices have spiraled out of control as supply plummeted while demand exploded.
- Power Prices: Real-time power prices in the PJM jurisdiction (Virginia, Pennsylvania, etc.) skyrocketed to $1,800 per MWh, dozens of times higher than normal.
- Heating Bill Crisis: Natural gas futures hit $7.46 per MMBtu, with household heating burdens expected to rise by more than 15% compared to last year.
Dry Cleaning Businesses Directly Hit by Weather Disaster
- Business Suspension & Revenue Collapse: With states of emergency declared across New York and New Jersey restricting citizens’ movement, laundry volume has plummeted by over 80% compared to normal levels. Power outages affecting thousands of households made operating laundry machinery impossible, leading to delivery delays and operating losses.
- Infrastructure Collapse: Dry cleaners in southern regions like Tennessee and Mississippi are facing a “double whammy” of skyrocketing operating costs due to energy price spikes and water shortages caused by frozen pipes.
Double Trouble for Korean Towns: ICE Crackdowns in Palisades Park
- Targeting Dry Cleaners & Laundromats: A shock wave was sent through Morristown, NJ, after a surprise raid at a laundromat resulted in the simultaneous arrest of 11 people. Business owners in the Broad Avenue area of Palisades Park stated, “Rumors of agents staking out in unmarked vehicles have made not only customers but also employees afraid to come to work.”
- Community Contraction: With the fear of crackdowns added to the volume reduction caused by the cold wave, commercial districts in Korean towns have entered a slump nearing a total “shutdown.”
Future Outlook: Warning of a Second ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Strike
Meteorological authorities have warned that a “Bomb Cyclone” (Bombogenesis)—a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system—will strike the East Coast again between January 31 and February 1. This is highly likely to deal an additional blow to the already weakened power grid and snow removal systems.
