which states have declared a state of emergency
Several U.S. states have declared a state of emergency ahead of the major January 2026 winter storm affecting large parts of the South, Midwest, and East Coast.
Quick Scoop: What’s Going On?
Governors are issuing emergency declarations mainly to prepare for heavy snow, ice, dangerous cold, and travel disruptions from a large winter storm sweeping the central and eastern U.S.
These declarations let states pre-position resources, activate emergency operations, and request federal or interstate support more quickly.
States that have declared a state of emergency (Winter Storm, late
January 2026)
Different sources list slightly different counts as more governors sign orders, but they consistently include the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Plus Washington, D.C. (not a state, but under an emergency declaration)
Some transport-related emergency notices also mention additional regional or topic-specific emergency orders (for example, for fuel or road salt) in states like Massachusetts, Vermont, and Wisconsin, but those may be narrower “energy” or “highway” emergencies rather than broad statewide storm emergencies.
Simple overview table
Below is a compact view of key states repeatedly cited as under a winter- storm-related state of emergency in late January 2026.
| Region | States with emergency declarations (storm- related) |
|---|---|
| Deep South / Gulf | Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia | [5][1][3]
| Southeast / Carolinas | North Carolina, South Carolina | [1][3][5]
| Ohio Valley / Central | Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas | [3][5][1]
| Mid-Atlantic | Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. | [5][1][3]
| Northeast | New York | [1][3][5]
Why this is a “trending topic”
- The storm affects tens of millions of people across multiple regions at once, which is why “which states have declared a state of emergency” has become a trending search and forum question.
- Live news feeds and updates note that the list has grown from around 15 states to “at least 18” as additional governors issue declarations while the storm approaches or intensifies.
How to check the very latest list
Because declarations can change quickly (new ones added, some expiring):
- Check your state governor’s official website or state emergency management agency page for current emergency orders.
- Look at major national news live blogs on the winter storm for updated counts and lists (they are updating as new declarations are signed).
- For transportation-specific impacts (like trucking or hours-of-service waivers), check federal emergency-declaration portals that aggregate active orders by state.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.