New Delhi, Jan. 25 -- A massive winter storm sweeping across the United States triggered widespread emergencies, power outages, and severe travel disruption, as dangerously cold temperatures, heavy snow and ice threatened to paralyse large parts of the country.

President Donald Trump on Saturday approved federal emergency disaster declarations for South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and West Virginia, calling the storms "historic."

At least 17 states and Washington, D.C. have declared weather emergencies, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"We will continue to monitor, and stay in touch with all States in the path of this storm....