A homeless encampment is pictured under a highway overpass Feb. 16, 2020, during a winter storm in Austin, Texas. Austin planned to operate over a dozen warming shelters around the clock for the city s vulnerable population until the historic cold outbreak ended. (CNS/Isabelle Baldwin)
Houston While snow and ice turned Texas into a winter wonderland, inside homes the February winter storm was devastating, especially in underserved communities, where millions of Texans struggled to survive in freezing temperatures, without power, heat or water.
The current death toll is 58, according to news reports, but that number is likely to increase in the coming weeks. Some people died from accidents driving on icy roads, while at least two died of carbon monoxide poisoning trying to stay warm, and there were 160 reports of other health effects due to potential carbon monoxide exposure, according to Texas health officials.
The bodies kept coming to the morgue, but none were leaving.
Frozen to death from hypothermia. Poisoned by carbon monoxide. Trapped in home fires. Dead from crashes on icy roads.
The Dallas County medical examiner’s Office was close to capacity and funeral homes couldn’t pick up bodies as the winter storm made roads icy and caused millions of power outages across Texas.
More bodies came last week as families, unable to check on loved ones during the storm, discovered relatives died in their homes and the bodies of the homeless were found. Dr. Jeffrey Barnard, Dallas County medical examiner, asked hospitals to hold onto bodies a few extra days. Morgue doctors stored others in the cooling trucks that are used only in emergencies.
The winter storm that hit Texas and other states has killed at least 80 people, but officials have said that an accurate death toll will take time to establish.
Cristian Pineda, 11, died during the Texas snowstorm on February 16, 2021. | GoFundMe
The family of a Texas boy who died while trying to stay warm inside their home after they lost power during a snowstorm a week ago is now suing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and Entergy Corporation for $100 million, accusing them of gross negligence.
Maria Elisa Pineda, 34, a Honduran immigrant and mother of the deceased 11-year-old, Cristian Pavon Pineda, told the Houston Chronicle that her son died on Feb. 16, less than 24 hours after seeing snow for the first time.
“Everything was well. He was happy that day. He was not at all sick,” she told the Chronicle.
However, when Pineda went to check up on Cristian, she made a startling discovery. He was already dead, she told
Cristian s stepbrother did not suffer injuries, according to Pineda.
Pineda said her son had been out playing outside on the previous day as it was his first time seeing snow arriving to the United States from Honduras two years ago. That s why he was excited outside, she explained. Everything was well. He was happy that day. He was not at all sick.
According to the mom, Cristian was outside for no more than half an hour before she brought him in when his winter gloves became soaked. He had dinner, played and was in bed by 11 p.m.