Welcome to the lead, I'm Jake Tapper, and we begin today with the nationally deadly winter

weather crippling the United States, the already fragile distribution of coronavirus

vaccines taking a major hit from New York to Washington State, desperately needed vaccine

appointments, have been canceled and shipments of doses delayed because of the weather.

In Texas, the hardest hit perhaps, it's now the fourth straight day without power, heat,

and water.

There are hundreds of thousands of Texans struggling to survive as a deep freeze as paralyzed

the lone star state.

Days without warmth means Americans are seeking refuge at warming centers inside their

cars, even in a furniture store that has turned into a much needed shelter for those without

electricity.

The conditions are so desperate, one family told CNN they are literally burning their

daughters toy blocks to keep warm.

More than 13 million people are also facing disruptions to another basic necessity, water

and the freezing temperatures are expected to remain for days.

42 Americans that we know of have died because of the storm, 16 of them in Texas, though

that number will surely rise.

And while various lawmakers and community leaders have been doing everything they can to

help Texans survive, to check in on each other, to find food, to find water, to find warmth

and medical care.

Texas editor Ted Cruz has been an exception.

He was spotted flying from Houston to Cancun, Mexico with his family yesterday.

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