Newsman: A Texas man reportedly “froze to death” in his recliner under blanket amid the freezing temperatures sweeping through the region. More than 211,000 power outages were reported by Texas early on Friday morning, according to the PowerOutrage.us. The number had previously been over a million, as the southern state’s lowest temperatures in 30 years caused widespread chaos. Across the state, the freezing temperatures and power outages are disrupting food supply chains, causing shortages.
The 60-year-old victim, who was not identified, was found dead in his chair on Wednesday after his home in Abilene lost power for three days, one of three people to die in that city, KTXS 12 reported. The Abilene Fire Department said the temperature inside the couple’s home was about the same as the chilly temps outside.The man’s wife, 72, was taken to the hospital.
“Please go check on your neighbors,” Abilene resident Josh Casey wrote on Facebook on Thursday. “A man froze to death in his recliner yesterday. His wife was beside him nearly dead. She is in the hospital still in peril. They had no power.”
More than 211,000 power outages were reported by Texas early on Friday morning, according to the PowerOutrage.us. The number had previously been over a million, as the southern state’s lowest temperatures in 30 years caused widespread chaos. Across the state, the freezing temperatures and power outages are disrupting food supply chains, causing shortages.
The mercury in Abilene, about 200 miles west of Dallas, plunged to as low as -2 degrees Fahrenheit this week as a historic Arctic blast moved through the area, bringing two rare winter storms that have killed dozens and caused widespread power outages and water issues.
Two others perished in the city amid the extreme weather — a 67-year-old homeless man found dead Monday due to exposure to the elements and another victim who died Wednesday at a “local medical facility,” KTXS reported.
Abilene Fire Chief Cande Flores said the medical facility couldn’t provide adequate treatment because of loss of water pressure — a serious problem also seen elsewhere in the state.
The patient was supposed to be transferred to another facility but died before getting there.
