Texas Adds Dozens To 2021 Winter Storm Death Toll

The Texas Tribune reports:

Texas has added 36 more deaths to the official death toll from the February snow and ice storm, bringing the total to 246 in what was one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history.

The Department of State Health Services disclosed the new total in a report on the storm that was released Friday and described as the “final report” in an analysis by the department’s Disaster Mortality Surveillance Unit.

The deaths occurred between Feb. 11 and June 4. The figure includes people who were injured in the storm but did not die until later, and also people whose bodies were found after the storm, including during repairs of damaged homes.

Read the full article.

NEW from @PatrickSvitek: A final report from @TexasDSHS ups the death toll from the 2021 winter storm to 246. It’s one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s history https://t.co/kEy8l105Y5 #txlege #tx2022

— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) January 3, 2022

“It was 150% Abbott’s idea.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been heavily involved in positive public messaging about the grid’s winter readiness, but the data aren’t rosy — and experts fear the grid could fail if there’s another winter storm. https://t.co/5lG1JrBaMy

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) December 30, 2021