About a week ago there was an Ice storm in austin and my car was having problems turning over due to the cold. I would have to try to start it about 3 to 5 times before it would start it would just give out like and make a sound like puff. Now when i start my car ther is a horrible sreeching sound and it seems like it is getting worse. Anybody have any suggestions

The hard start during the recent cold snap could be as simple as a misadjusted choke. Something y'all down there don't need to worry about as often as us here in the deep-freeze. That horrible screeching sound could be bearings in your water pump, steering pump, or alternator. Could also be as easy as a wornout belt. One way to isolate the sound is put a small diameter hose to each part and listen through the other. If you are lucky enough to have an automotive stethoscope that will do the trick. A long screwdriver put to the ear and parts will also work. A word of warning: do this cautiously as touching moving parts is dangerous! :D

That screeching sound could also be belts slipping as well.

Thanks for the tips i really do believe somethig is wrong with my choke however the screeching sound only happens when i start the car after that it's fine.

It is not unheard of for the alternator belt to slip at startup. You do not say how the noise lasts? Will it also screech if you rev it? Check the belt tension and possibly tighten the alternator belt a bit. See if that makes it go away.

Note that the alternator works a bit harder for awhile right after each startup to replace the battery charge used by the starter. This combined with a cold belt and accelerating engine can lead to belt slippage.

I just bought my first car(1972 el camino) and mine was doing the same exact thing, when you go to start it it makes a horrible screech, but it starts just fine, and when it is running there is no noise what so ever. I also heard that it might be that the starter needs some shimming and i wasn't sure if that was a good idea, so if anyone knows about that, or if there is a way to tell if it does need shimming i would really apreciate the help.
But thanks for the tips anyway

Someone will undoubtably tell me I'm wrong, but a properly installed starter should not need shimming...I have never had to shim any Chevy starter.

Well you are probobly right i just heard that from a friend so i have no idea if it is right or not, but thanks for your info :D

Some Chev engines do need starter shims, but its not something that happens suddenly. The engine either needs one, due to manufacturing variations, or it doesn't. They don't change.
The screeching is probably the belt, like the others say. First cold start, eh? Try living up here in the frozen North!