The death toll in the New York city of Buffalo has risen to 28, with thousands still without power amid a monster winter storm that has battered North America.
Across the US, at least 62 people have been confirmed dead across nine states.
In Buffalo, a state official said that military police are being brought in to help manage traffic in the city, where a driving ban remains in place.
Looting has been reported in parts of the city during the emergency.
Officials have said conditions are improving, with very little snowfall on Tuesday and slightly warmer weather on the way.
The death toll, however, is expected to rise as search efforts continue.
Earlier, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said that some people had been trapped for more than two days during what was “probably” the worst storm of their lifetime.
New York’s Erie County – which includes Buffalo – is among the hardest hit areas in the winter storm, which has stretched from Canada all the way to the Mexican border. More than 4,000 people in the area remain without power, down from a high of over 20,000.
Mark Poloncarz, executive of Erie County where Buffalo is located, said that 100 military police officers and additional state police were being brought in to help control traffic in the area, where conditions remained “ugly” on many local roads.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gragmalia said that looting is “still going on”. Four people have so far been arrested.
“This isn’t people stealing food and medicine and diapers,” he said. “They’re destroying stores. They’re stealing televisions, couches, whatever else they can get their hands on. They’re opportunists.”
US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration on Monday allowing federal support for New York State. “My heart is with those who lost loved ones this holiday weekend,” he tweeted.
Neighbouring state New Jersey also sent emergency services to New York state to provide further assistance.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, described the storm as “the blizzard of the century”.
“It is [like] going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking.”
She added that many emergency vehicles had been unable to reach worst-hit areas or had got stuck in snow themselves.
