Trump approves emergency declarations for South Carolina, Virginia amid historic winter storm expectations

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump on Saturday approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia states as a major winter storm threatens widespread devastation across much of the continental US.

"I have approved emergency declarations for the historic winter storms headed to the great state of South Carolina and the commonwealth of Virginia," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

The US president pledged federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state partners to ensure safety and adequate support, adding: "We will continue to monitor, and stay in touch with all states in the path of this storm."

Millions across the US face states of emergency as the potentially historic storm is expected to impact areas from the Southwest through the Northeast beginning Saturday.

The National Weather Service said heavy snowfall will hit from Oklahoma through southern Maine, while "widespread freezing rain and sleet" are forecast throughout the South and Southeast.

Trump earlier warned that a "record cold wave" is expected to strike dozens of states.