Texas
Heat-related Texas deaths climb after Hurricane Beryl left millions without power for days or longer
SPRING, Texas — As the temperature soared in the Houston-area home Janet Jarrett shared with her sister after losing electricity in Hurricane Beryl, she did everything she could to keep her 64-year-old sibling cool.
But on their fourth day without power, she awoke to hear Pamela Jarrett, who used a wheelchair and relied on a feeding tube, gasping for breath. Paramedics were called but she was pronounced dead at the hospital, with the medical examiner saying her death was caused by the heat.
“It’s so hard to know that she’s gone right now because this wasn’t supposed to happen to her,” Janet Jarrett said.
Almost two weeks after Beryl hit, heat-related deaths during the prolonged power outages have pushed the number of storm-related fatalities to at least 23 in Texas.
The combination of searing summer heat and residents unable to power up air conditioning in the days after the Category 1 storm made landfall on July 8 resulted in increasingly dangerous conditions for some in America’s fourth-largest city.
Beryl knocked out electricity to nearly 3 million homes and businesses at the height of the outages, which lasted days or much longer, and hospitals reported a spike in heat-related illnesses.
Power finally was restored to most by last week, after over a week of widespread outages. The slow pace in the Houston area put the region’s electric provider, CenterPoint Energy, under mounting scrutiny over whether it was sufficiently prepared.
While it may be weeks or even years before the full human toll of the storm in Texas is known, understanding that number helps plan for the future, experts say.
What is known about the deaths so far?
Just after the storm hit, bringing high winds and flooding, the deaths included people killed by falling trees and people who drowned when their vehicles became submerged in floodwaters. In the days after the storm passed, deaths included people who fell while cutting limbs on damaged trees and heat-related deaths.
Half of the deaths attributed to the storm in Harris County, where Houston is located, were heat related, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Jarrett, who has cared for her sister since she was injured in an attack six years ago, said her “sassy” sister had done everything from owning a vintage shop in Harlem, New York, to working as an artist.
“She had a big personality,” Jarrett said, adding that her sister had been in good health before they lost electricity at their Spring home.
When will a complete death toll be known?
With power outages and cleanup efforts still ongoing, the death toll likely will continue to climb.
Officials are still working to determine if some deaths that have already occurred should be considered storm related. But even when those numbers come in, getting a clear picture of the storm’s toll could take much more time.
Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, which uses death certificate data to identify storm-related deaths, estimated that it may not be until the end of July before they have even a preliminary count.
In the state’s vital statistics system, there is a prompt to indicate if the death was storm related and medical certifiers are asked to send additional information on how the death was related to the storm, Anton said.
Experts say that while a count of storm-related fatalities compiled from death certificates is useful, an analysis of excess deaths that occurred during and after the storm can give a more complete picture of the toll. For that, researchers compare the number of people who died in that period to how many would have been expected to die under normal conditions.
The excess death analysis helps count deaths that might have been overlooked, said Dr. Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.
What do different toll numbers tell us?
Both the approach of counting the death certificates and calculating the excess deaths have their own benefits when it comes to storms, said Gregory Wellenius, director of the Boston University School of Public Health’s Center for Climate and Health.
The excess death analysis gives a better estimate of the total number of people killed, so it’s useful for public health and emergency management planning in addition to assessing the impact of climate change, he said.
But it “doesn’t tell you who,” he said, and understanding the individual circumstances of storm deaths is important in helping to show what puts individual people at risk.
“If I just tell you 200 people died, it doesn’t tell you that story of what went wrong for these people, which teaches us something about what hopefully can we do better to prepare or help people prepare in the future,” Wellenius said.
Aubrey Barnhart has committed to Tennessee softball, she announced Friday night, following former Texas Tech coach Craig Snider.
Barnhart is originally from Pleasant View, Tennessee, and wrote, “I’m coming HOME!” in her social media post. The 5-foot-8 utility player started her career at Alabama for two seasons before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2024 season.
Barnhart started all 40 games she appeared in and hit .277 last season. She hit seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Barnhart started in 13 of her 28 appearances at Alabama from 2022-23, with most of those coming in her freshman season.
Barnhart is the fourth addition out of the transfer portal this offseason. She joins Washington infielder Kinsey Fiedler, South Carolina pitcher Sage Mardjetko and Texas infielder Ryan Brown.
Snider was hired as an assistant coach on Karen Weekly’s staff in June to replace Chris Malveaux as hitting coach. Malveaux and his wife, Kate, were hired as the new Auburn co-head coaches. Stephanie Sanders was also hired as an assistant. Sanders and Snider got married in June.
TRANSFERS: Tennessee softball transfer tracker: Who’s in, who’s out for Karen Weekly’s roster
Barnhart was named the 2020 Gatorade Tennessee State Player of the Year at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee. She was the No. 3 recruit in 2021 Extra Inning Softball rankings.
Sophomore outfielder Jamison Brockenbrough, who started 44 games in 2023, is the only Lady Vol to enter the transfer portal so far. Brockenbrough was used as a pinch hitter this season after being a starter as a freshman. She entered the portal prior to Tennessee’s super regional series against Alabama.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
You can watch “Texas Eats” on Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KSAT 12, KSAT.com, and KSAT Plus, our free streaming app.
This week on Texas Eats, join the team as we check out Pinstack’s newest location on the far North Side, just outside of San Antonio at 19238 I-10, San Antonio, TX 78257.
The new entertainment venue offers a range of entertainment options for the whole family including bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, rock climbing, and a high ropes course above a massive game floor.
The game floor hosts a variety of games including brand-new VR experiences, a football machine, basketball, arcades and more. Plus, the venue hosts its own restaurant and bar with an amazing menu including its stacked shakes, a Texas-sized 36-inch KingPin Pizza, wings, and more fun appetizers.
Right in the heart of downtown San Antonio at the Shops at Rivercenter Mall, we check out a new spot serving southern comfort fare. If you’re feeling hungry and need a pit stop off the Riverwalk, stop by and sample their creamy grits, mac and more.
Now open near Brooks City Base off of Goliad Road, Mexican restaurant La Unica Cocina Mexicana introduces a new concept and new menu with Focaccia Mia serving up classic Italian bites in the evening. You don’t want to miss out on their amazing pizzas.
Over in Wimberley, Texas, Wimberley BBQ is smoking up classic BBQ bites including brisket, sausage made in-house, pork ribs and all the sides.
Finally, recap the first-ever Texas Eats Food Festival — highlighting some of the best local chefs here in San Antonio.
Spotlight: PINSTACK
19238 W IH-10, San Antonio, TX 78257
Restaurants this week:
Southern Grit To-Go
849 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205 – Located inside the Rivercenter Food Court
Wimberley BBQ
500 River Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676
Focaccia Mia
2622 Goliad Rd, San Antonio, TX 78223
Follow Texas Eats and David Elder on Facebook and Instagram for more food info, pictures, videos and giveaways.
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TEXAS — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee died at the age of 74, her family announced late Friday night.
In June, the congresswoman announced that she was battling pancreatic cancer.
Many Texas lawmakers took to X to mourn the passing of Sheila Jackson Lee:
Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Cecilia and I will forever remember Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She was a proud Texan and a tireless advocate for the people of Houston.”
Sen. Ted Cruz said, “I’m deeply saddened by the passing of my friend & colleague Sheila Jackson Lee. She was a tireless advocate for Houston.”
Sylvester Turner, the 62nd mayor of Houston, said, “I am deeply saddened by the death of my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. From City Hall to the Halls of Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee has served her constituents well.”
Rodney Ellis, Harris County Commissioner, said, “Sheila’s ceaseless and unwavering dedication to those she represented served as an inspiration and source of strength to me in my career.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro, said, “You were tough, principled and gracious. As a black woman in Texas, you carried yourself in a way that demanded respect amid the racism and misogyny you encountered.”
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