Americans Told To Stay Indoors in 5 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
On Wednesday, residents in Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Kansas contended with potentially hazardous air pollution levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) real-time air quality map.
EPA mapping showed high concentration levels of fine particulates, also known as PM2.5 across a portion of central Kansas, western Minnesota, northwest South Dakota, a large portion of North Dakota, and Northeast Montana.
An official map highlights which areas faced the highest levels of air pollution.
An official map highlights which areas faced the highest levels of air pollution.
EPA
The worst affected state was North Dakota, with the EPA map showing a central swath of the state marked under "very unhealthy" air quality levels.
This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.
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Instagram/BilliesBreathingBattle Though Sterling acknowledges leaving the house with Billie can be a challenge, with all of the things they need to maintain her care, making it feel like they are "packing for a mini holiday," they have been out on trips together. Billie is usually just happy at home, though, enjoying her favorite show, Miss Rachel. "We have to be super careful with her and germs, which can be stressful sometimes but we do as much as possible with her to try and make life as normal as possible," Sterling said. Being prepared for moments like the one captured on the video is an example of the new normal they face as a family. Sterling and Burgess are more than up to the challenge, though. "We had lots of training before the hospital allowed us to be discharged," she said. "They teach you all about emergency situations and how to react, but I think you look calm on the outside but are freaking out on the inside." With time, they hope Billie begins to understand why she shouldn't touch the tube. Until then, both mom and dad know they will have to have "eyes in the back of [their] heads." A brighter future is on the horizon, one where Billie starts school and no longer needs the tracheostomy. That begins with ventilator breaks, with a view to building up to the point where she is off the machine all day. Sterling knows they are on a "journey" with their daughter, but if the video she shared online shows anything, it's that Billie is in the best possible hands.
