US winter storm: President Donald Trump labelled the storm "historic" while greenlighting federal emergency disaster declarations, as nearly 20 states plus the District of Columbia activated their own weather emergencies. Washington: A massive winter storm has gripped the eastern two-thirds of the United States, unleashing heavy snow, freezing rain, ice accumulation and life-threatening cold across a staggering 2,000-mile swath from New Mexico to New England. Affecting nearly 213 million people, the storm has knocked out power for over 8,50,000 customers, cancelled more than 14,000 flights, and prompted emergency declarations in nearly 20 states. Dubbed historic by officials, it threatens prolonged…
