Balance of Power

US Braces for Massive Winter Storm

Jan 23, 2026
Nicole Malliotakis, New York congresswoman focused on local readiness and redistricting. Deanne Criswell, former FEMA chief and emergency management expert. Josh Saul, Bloomberg energy reporter on power and fuel markets. They discuss storm impacts on the power grid, prepositioning of federal resources, staffing and institutional knowledge risks, and how energy demand and outages could unfold across regions.
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INSIGHT

Nationwide Scale And Grid Risk

  • Winter Storm Fern spans the entire country and could affect up to 170 million Americans with snow, ice, and extreme cold.
  • Josh Saul warns this large reach increases risk to grids, travel, and widespread power outages.
ANECDOTE

Uri Survivors' Makeshift Warmth

  • Josh Saul recalled people using generators and sleeping with pets during Winter Storm Uri when homes and infrastructure weren't built for extreme cold.
  • He used those stories to urge immediate public preparation for the coming storm.
INSIGHT

Power Restoration Is Complex

  • Restoring power after extended outages is complex and can't be done instantly; grid operators sequence re-energizing systems carefully.
  • Josh Saul emphasizes that turning power back on involves detailed safety and operational checks.
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