Southern US cities hit hard by storms face water crisis

Water trickles from a fire hydrant while City of Austin Water Utility workers repair a broken water main near 11th and Red River streets in Austin, Texas (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Southern US cities slammed by winter storms that left millions without power for days have now been forced to trade one crisis for another.

Busted water pipes ruptured by record-low temperatures created shortages of clean drinking water, shut down the Memphis airport on Friday and left hospitals struggling to maintain sanitary conditions.