Frigid temperatures and torrential snowfall have largely left the South after a cold front gripped the region weeks ago, but some cities are still facing dire infrastructure failures caused by the cold and their states lack of preparation.

Most of the people suffering the most untenable circumstances including a now weekslong water shortage in Mississippi are in predominantly Black and brown communities, and their experiences offer a grim look at the reality of racial inequality under the worsening global climate crisis.

When the extreme cold first touched the South in mid-February, Texas officials specifically, Texas Republicans were roundly criticized for their long-standing opposition to weatherizing the states power supply, a progressive energy priority. But widespread infrastructure failures during and after the cold front werent confined to Texas.

In recent days, Jackson, Mississippi, has also come into national focus as some parts of the majority-Black city enter day 13 of a water shortage caused by main breaks. Jackson is nearly 80% Black and has nearly 170,000 residents. Those using the citys water system have been on a boil water advisory for the past week, meaning the city has advised them that water main breaks caused by the cold have left some areas with no water, low water pressure or potentially toxic material traveling through the pipes. Officials in the state and private donors have been distributing bottled water to help residents weather the shortage.