Texas puts final estimate of winter storm death toll at 246

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


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.

The 246 deaths spanned 77 counties and included victims ranging from less than 1 year old to 102 years old, according to the report. Close to two-thirds of the deaths were due to hypothermia. Of the deaths, the report classified 148 as "direct," 92 as "indirect" and six as "possible," using criteria developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DSHS previously pegged the death toll at 210 in July. The agency said in the report that it identifies deaths through "mortality surveillance forms, death certificates, and verification of informally reported deaths."

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/02/texas-winter-storm-final-death-toll-246/