Linemen and utility crews are working around the clock to restore electricity across the South after Winter Storm Fern coated the region in ice. (WSJ)
Across 11 affected states, 700K+ customers remained without power. The Edison Electric Institute reports that ~65K utility employees have been deployed to assist with repairs.
The weight of just 1 inch of ice on power lines adds ~5K pounds of stress per span. Combined with falling trees and freezing temperatures, crews face dire conditions as they cut their way into damaged areas.