The bitter cold is causing chaos along the nation's major rivers and lakes.
And the Coast Guard is deploying a special fleet of ships to break through the ice and get to those in need.
Hundreds of vessels called ice choppers are cutting through the freeze to carry oil, food and other supplies to towns along rivers.
Crews are working around the clock. Each boat can cut through ice three feet thick.
And with more cold weather on the way, the existing ice will only get thicker.
"If it's a hard strong ice season.. like they predict, absolutely, it's vital that we are here," said Steven Romano.
They're also on stand-by to rescue any boaters that literally get frozen in their tracks.
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