Midwest blasted with record winter weather

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — What most people from the Midwest have been dreading has finally arrived.

Chicago has broken the January 30 record low which was -15 degrees in 1966. As of 7 this morning, it was -23 at Ohare international airport. Wind chills have dropped into the negative 50s across northeast Illinois into northwest Indiana this morning.

People are experiencing a blistering wind chill around Chicago.

 “It is extremely cold that someone can experience frostbite on exposed skin in five minutes or less.”

According to the National Weather Service, about 90 million people will continue to experience below-zero degrees from this polar vortex.

There have been at least 6 weather-related deaths, and over a thousand canceled flights. Utility company Comed reports that there are 24,000 people without power, systemwide. 270 warming centers have been created including libraries, park houses, community centers, police stations, and churches.

States of emergency have been declared by the governors of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

34-year old Lhancy Velasquez panicked when their furnace or house heater broke 3 days prior to the anticipated cold temperature.

“Sobra akong kinabahan lalo na para sa mga anak ko. Actually nagtanong na nga ako ng mga pwedeng matirhan nila, pagdalhan sa kanila. Kasi ako, okay lang ako eh. Okay lang ako lamigin. Kaya ko ‘yan. Pero ‘yung dalawang yon, hindi sila pwede lamigin. Kaya kinausap ko yung family namin, ni-ready ko na mga gamit nila para kung sakaling doon sila.”

With a 3-bedroom-2-bath home, Velasquez and family used this small space heater temporarily, as they waited for the delivery of the furnace.

“Ikinabit niya kaagad kasi naaawa siya sa amin. Naaawa siya kasi malamig masyado para sa mga bata. Nagpapasalamat ako na hindi sila nagkasakit. ‘Yun yung takot ng ina.”

According to Dr. Gerardo Gueco, the absence of heat inside the house is extremely dangerous, especially in these weather conditions.

“The rhythm of the heart can be affected causing a Fatal Arrhythmia causing our death. It can also affect our mental state, it can make us confused, it can also affect our breathing, especially people who have certain diseases, the old and the young, the ones with diabetes, the malnourished. If they dont have enough heat at home, they would be at risk of being the ones really affected by this extreme temperature.”

 For over 3 decades, Ruby Dimalanta has been driving the US postal vehicle, rain or shine.

But this week, United States Postal Service announced that they will not be delivering mail on Wednesday as everyone is advised to stay indoors until the storm has passed.

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat or gloom of night will prevent mail carriers from completing their point of rounds. But with this bitter cold weather we’re gonna have, our safety comes first.”

The Forecast shows a warmer weekend, in the 40s, and no snow in the horizon, until Wednesday next week.