![]() ![]() “If you’re going outside, make sure you wear multiple layers of lightweight, warm clothing and a water-repellent outer layer,” Luhn said. When asked about being prepared, Luhn explained that three days’ worth of emergency food and water is ideal. The list includes non-perishable goods, one gallon of water per person per day, a first aid kit, batteries, flashlights, portable chargers, batteries, copies of important documents in air-tight plastic bags and blankets. In case of power outages or winter weather emergencies, Get Ready Texas compiled a list of items to prepare in an abundance of caution. They suggest people install and test carbon monoxide detectors throughout their homes and in garages. According to the TDI, this can make you short of breath or cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, weakness or even death. If carbon monoxide builds up in an environment, the gas begins replacing the oxygen supply, usually without anyone realizing it. People should avoid running their cars in closed garages specifically, as that led to many deaths in 2021. It is important that people understand the risks of using their cars, stoves, fireplaces or furnaces as heating systems. ![]() An article published by the Texas Department of Insurance outlined the best ways to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter. Texas winters, though usually considered moderate compared to other regions, have become increasingly unpredictable.ĭuring last year’s freeze, many families without power resorted to their cars for warmth, which resulted in numerous carbon monoxide poisoning-related deaths. “And while it’s rare for the Houston area, ice can pose significant threats, from downed power lines to treacherously slick sidewalks and roads.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.“It is always important to be prepared, whether it’s having the proper warm clothing or preparing our homes for the bitterly cold temperatures,” Luhn said. The Railroad Commission recently passed a rule requiring essential natural gas facilities to register as “critical infrastructure” so they won't be impacted by rolling blackouts in severe weather.īut that doesn’t currently include any weatherization requirements, and won’t, until officials have completed a map of the natural gas supply chain. However, while power plants and electricity providers are being required to winterize, energy experts say the same isn’t true for natural gas facilities, which are overseen by the Railroad Commission. Bexar County reported 16 deaths.ĮRCOT last week reported that following inspections the state’s electric generation fleet is ready to go for the winter. That’s followed by Travis County at 28 and Dallas County at 22. Harris County, Texas’ largest county, reported the most deaths at 43. Nineteen deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Nine deaths were attributed to trauma or fractures sustained during falls, slips on ice and one fall through ice resulting in drowning. A total 22 deaths were attributed to vehicle accidents.Ī total 10 deaths were attributed to fire-related injuries that occurred when Texans attempted to use alternative heat sources. Other causes of death included exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, such as disruption to dialysis treatment, oxygen treatment and hospice care, as well as hazardous road conditions. The majority of the deaths involved prolonged exposure to extreme cold, with 158 attributed to hypothermia and three to frostbite. The deaths, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, involved Texans between the ages of 1 and 102 and spanned 77 counties. The disaster launched a congressional investigation and led to the ouster of the head of the state’s embattled electric grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ![]() Many homes went without power or drinkable water for days after subfreezing temperatures, failing power plants and record demand for heat pushed Texas’ electric grid to the breaking point. However, questions remain about natural gas facilities
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