America is under siege from a powerful ice storm that’s forced 16 states to declare states of emergency by Saturday morning. Air travel has ground to a halt with over 5,100 Sunday flights canceled, surpassing previous records and stranding countless passengers.

The affected states span a wide swath: Delaware, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, and Kansas. Governors have invoked emergency powers to marshal snowplows, salt trucks, and emergency personnel against the onslaught of snow, ice, and biting cold.

FlightAware reports the tally keeps rising—5,100-plus for Sunday as of 2 a.m. local time, plus 1,000 more since Friday evening. Saturday’s disruptions hit 3,200 flights, eclipsing the 1,900 cancellations during the 2019 government shutdown’s peak on November 9.

In a direct message on Truth Social, President Trump highlighted the impending ‘record cold wave and winter storm’ across much of the nation. He assured coordination with state and local leaders, with FEMA on high alert. White House officials noted the president’s round-the-clock updates and inter-agency collaboration.

FEMA’s proactive stance includes 28 ready-to-deploy Urban Search and Rescue teams and stockpiles of essentials in vulnerable areas: 7 million-plus meal kits, 2 million liters of water, over 600,000 blankets, and 300 generators. This preparation aims to mitigate risks from extended blackouts and impassable roads. Travelers and residents are advised to check updates, avoid unnecessary travel, and bundle up as the storm’s fury unfolds.