A young woman who froze to death in her car after being stranded for 18 hours in a snowstorm sent her family a chilling video before she died.
More than 50 people have been killed in the savage storm described as one of the worst weather disasters to ever hit the US.
Rescue teams in Buffalo, New York state, have been searching for cars buried in snow drifts as drivers opted to ignore advice to stay off the roads in the worsening conditions.
Among the dead was 22-year-old Anndel Taylor who was found dead in her car by rescue teams.
Her family revealed they believed she died of carbon monoxide poisoning from the fumes, not the freezing conditions.
Before her death she managed to send a video of her car stuck in snow.
Shawnequa Brown, her sister, told NEWS: “I don’t know if any of us really knew how serious it was, we didn’t see the news, we didn’t really know what was going on in Buffalo.
“She was telling my sister that she was scared.”
In the wake of the tragedy she started a fundraiser to help pay for her funeral, which has aso far earned more than £15,000.
She wrote on the site: “As you all may know our sister, your friend, passed away by accident in a blizzard that occurred in Buffalo NY December 23 and 24.
“She was stuck in her car for hours/days which caused the snow to continue to build up on her car causing her to be unable to get out. We are currently trying to put Services together to say our final goodbyes.
“We are truly in need of emotional and financial help to complete the task at hand and with heavy hearts we are reaching out to all of you to assist us.
“Anything and everything you assist us with will be greatly appreciated. Allow us to do what's right for her in her untimely passing.”
Tens of millions of people have been sheltering from the conditions as several inches of snow has fallen in the worst-affected areas.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul earlier said: “This is a war with mother nature, and she has been hitting us with everything she has.
“It is like going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking.”
US President Joe Biden said his prayers were with the victims' families, and offered federal assistance on Monday to the hard-hit state.
Those who lost their lives around Buffalo were found in cars, homes and snowbanks.
Some died while shovelling snow, while others perished when emergency crews could not respond in time to medical crises.
The blizzard roared across western New York on Friday and Saturday.
With many shops in the Buffalo area closed and driving bans in place, some people pleaded on social media for donations of basic supplies such as food and nappies.
Storm-related deaths were reported nationwide, including at least eight following crashes in Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky.
A woman also died after falling through Wisconsin river ice, while there was a fatal fire at a Kansas homeless persons camp.
In Jackson, Mississippi, crews struggled to get water through the city's beleaguered water system, meaning many areas had no water or low water pressure.
On Christmas Day, residents were told to boil their drinking water due to water pipes bursting in the frigid temperatures.
