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Feb 18, 2021 - Science

In photos: Winter emergency in Texas

Rebecca Falconer
Customers wait in line to enter Frontier Fiesta on February 17, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

A line outside a Fiesta Mart grocery store in Houston, Texas, Feb. 17. Texans have been running out of food and other supplies, and the cold weather has "wiped out" the state's citrus and vegetable crops, the Texas Tribune reports. Photo: Thomas Shea/AFP via Getty Images

Millions of Americans are still without power during the winter weather emergency that's sweeping the U.S. — including nearly 1.8 million Texans, per utility tracker poweroutage.us. Some have also lost water services.

The big picture: Texas has been particularly badly hit by the deadly storm, with infrastructure damaged and pipes frozen. Officials told some 7 million Texans Wednesday to boil tap water before drinking it.

People take shelter in a Gallery Furniture store which opened as a shelter in Houston, Texas
A Gallery Furniture store has opened as a shelter in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 17. The Biden administration is sending emergency generators to the state, as blackouts are expected to last until at least Feb. 18 Photo: Zach Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A sign states that a Fiesta Mart is closed because of a power outage in Austin, Texas on February 17
A sign states that a Fiesta Mart is closed because of a power outage in Austin, Texas on Feb. 17. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called for an investigation into the state's power grid. Photo: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
Customers wait outside at a Home Depot in Pearland, Texas to enter the store to buy supplies on February 17
Customers wait outside at a Home Depot in Pearland, Texas, to enter the store to buy supplies on Feb. 17. The store would only let one person in at a time because of a power outage. Photo: Thomas Shea/AFP via Getty Images
A city of Austin worker operates a bulldozer to restore water in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 17.
A city of Austin worker operates a bulldozer to restore water in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 17. Photo: Thomas Ryan Allison/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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