To say the past year and a half has been strange would be an understatement. Nevertheless, when record-breaking ice storms swept through most regions of the United States, people were still surprised. Yet, that is exactly what unfolded throughout the week of February 20, 2021 when the world became shocked once more due to the dangerous conditions at hand. It is no secret that Virginia, especially, has had its fair share of warm winters the past couple of years, and following the trend of change set by 2020, the New Year brought the State the worst ice storms Virginia has seen in over two decades.  As a result of the storms, a staggering 285,000 homes lost power according to John Boyer and Michael Paul Williams, writers for the Richmond-Times Dispatch.

As for the rest of the country, the weather varied across all regions of the United States. The Midwest had temperatures around zero degrees and below, while the Southeast coast had temperatures just above freezing. However, no one made national headlines more than the state of Texas, whose weather looked more like Maine or New York. Statistics from KXAN highlight that even two weeks later, hundreds of Texans remain without running water, leading non-profit organizations to get involved to help those still struggling. Many were without power for over a week due to the dangerous conditions, creating even more harmful situations and taking the lives of more than 40 people.

In the Chesterfield area, the storm left many online students without power. Power outages and icy roads forced schools to close, leaving few options for unprepared families. Despite the onset of challenges, students found ways to keep busy during the days trapped inside. “I kept busy by doing puzzles with my family until my power came back and then it was like a normal weekend,” junior Sophie Marusco said. Now two weeks later, temperatures have again risen back to the usual 40 degrees. Since the freezing temperatures were an obstacle for the entire country, it brought us together to support one another, and we will be better off because of it.