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Homeland Security officials have urged disaster response staff at the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/politics/fema-halts-terminations-winter-storm">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a> to avoid using the word “ice” in public messaging about the massive winter storm barreling toward much of the United States, according to two sources familiar with the directive.
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The concern is that the word could spark confusion or online mockery, given the ongoing controversy surrounding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement — also known as “ICE.”
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The guidance, informally delivered to a group at FEMA Thursday by officials from the Department of Homeland Security – which oversees both FEMA and ICE – comes as states across the South brace for potentially devastating ice accumulations, with some areas expecting a quarter -inch or more.
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Officials told staff they worry that certain phrasing – like “watch out for ice” – could be misinterpreted or quickly turned into internet fodder, especially as ICE operations remain a flashpoint in cities like Minneapolis and beyond. That would take away from the purpose of the messages, meant to protect people in danger over the next few days, the officials said.
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“If FEMA says, ‘Keep off the roads if you see ice,’ it would be easy for the public to meme it,” a source with knowledge of the guidance told CNN. “I think it’s a dangerous precedent to set. If we can’t use clear language to help prepare Americans, then people may be left vulnerable and could suffer.”
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Instead, FEMA staff have been encouraged to use terms like “freezing rain” in their public messaging, the sources said.
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A statement to CNN Friday, attributable to a FEMA spokesperson, said: “Reporting’ like this reads like a desperate ploy for clickbait rather than real journalism that actually gives Americans disaster preparedness information that could save lives. FEMA will use correct and accurate descriptors of weather conditions to communicate clearly to the American people.”
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This comes as the White House and Trump himself often employ memes in their public messaging. Earlier this week, the official White House account posted on social media a fake image of one of the people arrested in Minnesota after they interrupted a church service to protest a pastor who appears to be a top ICE official. A White House spokesperson responded to questions, saying: “Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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The looming storm, which also is expected to dump snow from the Rockies to the Northeast, threatens to snap power lines, topple trees and turn roads treacherous. FEMA is tasked with coordinating a sweeping federal disaster response, which includes issuing public warnings.
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FEMA appeared to follow the new guidance in a <a href="https://x.com/fema/status/2014527497627427012" target="_blank">Thursday night tweet</a> that did not mention the word “ice,” warning: “Heavy snow, freezing rain & cold temps are expected across many states this weekend, which could cause damage and widespread power outages.” Another <a href="https://x.com/fema/status/2014739275942666279?s=20" target="_blank">post on X</a> Friday did the same: “A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerous cold across much of the U.S., creating risks for travel, power and safety.”
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The storm is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/22/weather/tracking-us-winter-storm-snow-vis">forecast</a> to stretch more than 2,000 miles from Texas to New England, impacting nearly three dozen states, with the most severe ice expected in the South. Hundreds of thousands could lose power for days, largely from the damage that heavy ice could do to the grid.
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</div>1. Short Description:
Amid a major winter storm, FEMA reportedly avoids using the word “ice” in public warnings to prevent confusion with the controversial ICE agency, sparking a debate over clear emergency communication.
2. Read Time:
2 minutes, 15 seconds
3. Main Article:
Internal Guidance at FEMA Creates Communication Dilemma
As a massive winter storm threatens widespread power outages and dangerous travel conditions across the United States, a new operational challenge has emerged for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to sources, officials from the Department of Homeland Security have informally advised FEMA’s disaster response staff to avoid using the word “ice” in public safety messaging. The directive stems from concerns that the term could be misconstrued or mocked online due to its association with the politically charged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. For finance professionals, this story underscores how political and reputational risk can directly impact the operational protocols of critical federal emergency response agencies, potentially affecting the speed and clarity of public warnings.
Balancing Clear Messaging with Political Sensitivity
The guidance highlights a modern communication tightrope. Officials fear phrases like “watch out for ice” could quickly become internet memes, diluting their life-saving purpose. Instead, staff are encouraged to use terms like “freezing rain.” While a FEMA spokesperson dismissed the report as “clickbait,” the agency’s recent social media posts conspicuously omitted “ice,” favoring the suggested alternatives. This incident occurs in an era where government messaging, including from the White House, actively employs memes. For the finance and business community, the implications are tangible: unclear or delayed public warnings can lead to unprepared workforces, disrupted supply chains, and higher economic losses from preventable storm damage.
Economic and Safety Implications of the Storm
The looming storm itself presents a significant economic threat. Forecast to impact over 30 states, it risks snapping power lines and causing protracted outages for hundreds of thousands. This directly threatens business continuity, operational costs, and regional economic stability. The core mandate of FEMA public warnings is to mitigate such risks through clear, actionable information. When the language of those warnings becomes entangled in political considerations, it introduces an unnecessary variable that could leave the public—and the economy—more vulnerable. The situation raises critical questions about whether agencies can maintain apolitical, unambiguous communication during national emergencies.
4. Short Summary:
A major winter storm has triggered an unusual communications policy at FEMA, where officials are reportedly avoiding the word “ice” to prevent confusion with the ICE agency. This attempt to sidestep political memes raises concerns about the clarity of federal emergency response warnings. For businesses and the public, unambiguous public warnings are crucial for safety and mitigating the storm’s significant financial impact from power outages and travel disruptions.
