Record cold has settled into the U.S., bringing brutal and potentially life-threatening conditions for millions across the central and eastern parts of the country.

While the snow and freezing rain from this winter storm are ending, the impacts across much of the country are not.

A neighborhood in Middle Tennessee is completely covered by a thick sheet of ice. Thousands in the region lost power when freezing rain and ice weighed down power lines and trees. How can something so pretty be so destructive?

Mississippi is seeing some of the largest ice totals from Winter Storm Fern, and it is having an impact on the state’s roads. Watch this video to see what happened to several semi trucks that lost control, and check out how the ice has piled up on trees and power lines.

Temperatures will be well below freezing across a huge swath of the country. The last problem you want is frozen pipes, cracking or bursting in your home. Here are some ways to prevent that.