HOUSTON – Texans are still recovering from the historic and devastating winter storm.
While many are dealing with property damages related to busted pipes, dozens of families are struggling with a much heavier burden: The loss of a loved one.
Throughout Greater Houston, at least 25 people have died from the effects of the storm. The majority of them were over the age of 50, and all but five died of hypothermia in the extreme temperatures.
Most deaths occurred inside homes or apartments, while others died at hospitals. One person died in a backyard shed, another died in a parking lot.
| Gender | Race | Age | Death Date | Cause of Death | Contributing Factors | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | White | 52 | 2/13 | Accident - Hypothermia | Environmental exposure | Hospital ER - Houston |
| Male | Hispanic | 51 | 2/15 | Accident - Hypothermia | Environmental exposure | Grassy area outside - Houston |
| Female | Unclear | Adult | 2/16 | Accident - Carbon monoxide toxicity | Car left running inside a closed garage | Residence - Houston |
| Female | Unclear | 8 | 2/16 | Accident - Carbon monoxide toxicity | Car left running inside a closed garage | Residence - Houston |
| Female | Black | 84 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease -Pulmonary emboli -Dementia -Seizure disorder | Residence - Houston |
| Male | White | 75 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive & atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease -Diabetes mellitus -COPD | Residence - Houston |
| Male | Black | 61 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Chronic ethanolism -Hepatitis C -Hepatic cirrhosis -Heptocellular carcinoma -COPD -Dementia | Residence - Houston |
| Female | Black | 69 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease -Pancytopenia -Bradycardia -Hyperparathyroidism -Adrenal insufficiency | Apartment - Houston |
| Male | Hispanic | 60 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Chronic ethanol abuse | Apartment - Houston |
| Male | Black | 81 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease -Diabetes mellitus | Residence - Houston |
| Female | Black | 88 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive & atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease -COPD | LBJ Hospital |
| Male | White | 86 | 2/16 | Accident - Hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | Fall on ice that resulted in blunt trauma of torso with a lumbar spine fracture | Memorial Hermann in Memorial City |
| Female | White | 87 | 2/17 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Dementia | Residence - Houston |
| Female | Hispanic | 8 | 2/17 | Accident - Carbon monoxide toxicity | In closed residence with gas combustion generator in attached/enclosed garage | Residence - Houston |
| Male | Hispanic | 49 | 2/17 | Accident - Carbon monoxide toxicity | In closed residence with gas combustion generator in attached/enclosed garage | Residence - Houston |
| Male | Black | 71 | 2/17 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | Residence - Crosby |
| Female | White | 97 | 2/17 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Diabetes mellitus -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease | Apartment - Houston |
| Male | Black | 76 | 2/17 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease -Diabetes mellitus -Obesity | Backyard shed - Houston |
| Female | Black | 86 | 2/17 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental Exposure -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease | Houston |
| Female | Hispanic | 79 | 2/18 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental Exposure -Lung Carcinoma | Houston |
| Male | White | 48 | 2/18 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental Exposure -COVID-19 -Cerebral palsy -Seizure disorder | Houston |
| Female | Hispanic | 43 | 2/18 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental Exposure -Chronic alcoholism with cirrhosis -Hypertensive cardiovascular disease | Houston |
| Female | Black | 77 | 2/18 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | Front of Church - Houston |
| Male | Black | 61 | 2/19 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Congestive cardiomyopathy due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease and chronic ethnolism with hepatic cirrhosis | Commercial parking lot - Houston |
| Female | White | 87 | 2/20 | Accident - Hypothermia | -Environmental exposure -Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | Residence - Houston |
The deaths, along with the lengthy power outages and the other losses people are dealing with, have caused outrage among local and state communities, who are demanding answers from ERCOT, CenterPoint and other parties. ERCOT is the agency charged with managing most of the power grid in Texas. It’s also the agency that mandated blackouts that left millions of Texans in the dark and cold for days during last week’s winter storm.
As a result, five board members of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced they would resign Wednesday. State lawmakers have already announced an investigation of the agency. Lawsuits have also been filed against the agency.