As temperatures rose above freezing in many parts of the Southern United States on Thursday, residents from Texas to New Orleans began the difficult process of cleaning up after a severe storm that brought record snow to the area.

In Pensacola, Florida, which saw over 7 inches of snowfall, temperatures were set to climb from a low of 26 degrees to a high of 44 degrees on Thursday, based on National Weather Service reports. Mobile, Alabama was projected to see a temperature rise from 13 degrees to 47 degrees, just two days after receiving 7.5 inches of snow. The Houston region could see temperatures surpassing 50 degrees by Thursday afternoon.

Weather.com indicates that by the weekend, temperatures in affected Southern states could reach into the 60s. Soon, snowmen will turn into muddy heaps, and fresh green grass will begin to show again.

Nevertheless, locations unaccustomed to winter weather will face hurdles in returning to normalcy long after the snow has melted away. The repercussions of this storm could linger for days, weeks, or in some cases, even months.

Here are some of the ways daily life in the South may continue to be disrupted:

Injuries and Emergencies

The winter storm has claimed at least 12 lives, and many more individuals are dealing with serious injuries caused by shoveling snow or slipping on ice.

Ochsner Health in New Orleans reported a notable increase in injuries over the past several days, with eight hip fractures recorded on Tuesday when blizzard conditions hit the area, according to Dr. Jon Michael Cuba, head of emergency medical services.

He noted that 40% to 50% of patient admissions that day were related to fractures. Some of these orthopedic injuries will need several weeks of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Many healthcare facilities, including Ochsner, canceled non-urgent appointments during the storm and expect a backlog in patient care in the coming days. In some regions, where roads remain too slick for ambulances, emergency rooms and operating rooms may face prolonged wait times.

A backlog of patients is also stuck in hospitals waiting to be discharged until the roads are safer, making it challenging for hospitals to accept new patients, Ochsner stated. As road conditions improve, chaos is likely to escalate.

Accidents and Vehicle Damage

Roads are anticipated to stay hazardous over the following days as melting snow freezes into ice. Even after the last remnants of the storm clear, many residents in the South will have to handle vehicle damage.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety reported receiving 1,960 weather-related service requests and 250 crash reports during the peak of the storm’s impact on Wednesday.

Clay Ingram, a spokesperson for AAA Alabama, mentioned to YSL News that they usually see a 200% rise in assistance calls during snowstorms despite fewer vehicles being on the roads.

Impact on Citrus Trees and Other Plants

Citrus trees, succulents, and other plants native to warmer climates may have sustained damage from the snow and freezing temperatures.

Younger and less mature lemon and orange trees that were left uncovered in the cold likely did not survive, according to Josh Wilson, a plant technician at Pinelands Nursery in Milton, Florida. However, more established trees are expected to survive but may show some dead branches, Wilson added.

Texas farmers and ranchers do not expect long-standing damage to their crops from the cold weather, and some drier areas in the state might benefit from the snowfall, as reported by Gary Joiner, a spokesperson for the Texas Farm Bureau, to YSL News.

The crops currently growing, such as winter wheat, are capable of withstanding cold temperatures, and the moisture from the snow could actually promote crop growth, Joiner explained. Had the storm occurred in February or March when crops are more vulnerable, the outcomes could have been much worse, he noted.