Winter Storm Gianna Leaves Prolonged Cold and Widespread Impacts Across the East and Southeast

After a weekend of heavy snow, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous wind chills, much of the East and Southeast remain under freeze and extreme cold warnings as communities begin assessing the full impact of Winter Storm Gianna. The powerful system intensified into a bomb cyclone, extending severe winter conditions across states still recovering from the previous weekend's storm. Mansfield is closely monitoring the cities and regions affected and is working around the clock to assist customers and support operations wherever conditions allow.

Around 100,000 homes and businesses are still without power, with Mississippi and Tennessee reporting the most outages, followed by Florida. The weekend's bomb cyclone has been linked to at least four fatalities, one in Georgia, one in Tennessee, and two in North Carolina, adding to the significant loss of life from the previous weekend's Winter Storm Fern.

North Carolina experienced some of the heaviest snowfall, with James City recording 18 inches and Swansboro receiving 17 inches. Hazardous travel conditions led to more than 1,100 collisions statewide, including major incidents along Interstate 85 north of Charlotte. With wind chills expected to approach zero in parts of the region, icy roads, ongoing power outages, and sustained extreme cold continue to challenge recovery efforts.

Although most carriers are back online across the affected regions, hazardous and icy road conditions persist in certain areas, and some locations may continue to experience delivery delays as safety remains the top priority.

Mansfield deliveries remain on Code Red in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, requiring a 72-hour notice for new requests. Mansfield remains on Code Orange in South Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, requesting 48-hour notice.

Mansfield remains actively engaged, closely tracking conditions and supporting customers and markets work toward full recovery.

Recovery Efforts

For fleets, the work often intensifies after the storm passes. As operations resume, clear communication with fuel suppliers is crucial, especially if sites experienced outages, increased demand, or power disruptions that affect pumping capability. Inventory levels should be reviewed before placing orders, and suppliers should be notified as sites return to normal operations.

An extended cold can also create fuel operability challenges. When temperatures drop below 15°F, diesel may gel, and water in tanks can freeze, restricting fuel flow. Tanks and equipment should be inspected for signs of gelling or icing before restarting vehicles and generators. In addition, sites should ensure tank fill lids, gates, and access roads are fully cleared of snow and ice before deliveries resume to prevent canceled loads and added fees. If issues are found, emergency reliquefiers such as RED ALERT can help restore fuel to a usable state. Addressing these problems early can significantly reduce downtime as fleets bring vehicles and generators back online.

Click here to visit our Post Storm Fuel Guidance Page.

Stay Ready!

Mansfield Energy, North America's leading fuel distributor, brings a wealth of expertise to the table in creating a robust emergency response program tailored to your company's needs. With an extensive network serving the US and Canada, Mansfield understands the importance of proactive measures to address potential disruptions from storms or other natural disasters.

Leveraging in-depth knowledge, Mansfield has developed a comprehensive Emergency Response Fuel Program that prescribes the industry's best practices. Mansfield's program enables a multi-faceted approach, prioritizing essential services and collaborating closely with partners to ensure seamless fuel distribution during emergencies. Contact us today!