4 dead, several injured amid carbon monoxide warning as first 'bomb cyclone' casualties reported in Texas
FORT WORTH, TEXAS: At least four people have died as a result of the "once in a generation" bomb cyclone, and millions more Americans are preparing for record-breaking temperatures before Christmas. The fatalities were recorded on Friday, December 23 morning in Kentucky and Fort Worth, Texas, both of which had sub-zero temperatures.
The "bomb cyclone" will batter Midwest and East Coast areas with a ton of snow, subfreezing temperatures, and hazardous wind chills that can quickly result in frostbite. The CPSC issued a warning that the circumstances might result in blackouts and promote the use of portable generators. “Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power,” the safety commission said. “Portable generators create a risk of [carbon monoxide] poisoning that can kill in minutes," as reported by The US Sun.
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An unresponsive male was discovered by MedStar emergency responders outside a McDonald's in Fort Worth. The victim, according to officials, was subjected to below-freezing conditions there. The unnamed man was brought to the hospital, where he eventually died. According to Fox 4 News, up until 6 in the morning on Friday, December 23, MedStar responded to 27 calls involving cold-related illnesses and injuries. On Friday, December 23 morning, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear revealed three fatalities associated with the arctic front moving through the state. Western Kentucky, Louisville, and a third unidentified site were the places where the deaths were reported.
Prior to the winter storm, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning about the possibility of carbon monoxide deaths. Because it is odorless and colorless, carbon monoxide, often known as "CO," is referred to as an "invisible killer," according to the CPSC. Before experiencing symptoms of nausea, dizziness, weakness, and perhaps death, exposed people may go unconscious.
According to the National Weather Service, 37 states have issued winter and wind chill alerts to around 100 million Americans. More than a million Americans were without power on Friday, December 23 morning, and thousands of flights were canceled as many rushed to the airport to fly home for Christmas. In some places, the roadways have experienced drifts of more than 10 feet.
After officials warned that the arctic blast would linger over the weekend, areas in the Midwest and the Plains should be ready for the coldest Christmas in forty years. Frostbite can occur in less than five minutes in places like Des Moines, Iowa, where it will feel like negative 37 degrees. On Thursday, December 22, snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain started to fall across the Pacific Northwest. 50 mph wind gusts battered Portland, Oregon, and other areas, toppling trees onto houses.
In Montana, Elk Park, a mountain pass on the Continental Divide, experienced temperatures as low as 50 below zero. On Thursday, December 22 night, the state of Ohio saw a "unique and dangerous" flash freezing, according to Governor Mike DeWine. Forecasters in Buffalo, New York, warned of a "once-in-a-generation storm" due to the lake-effect snowfall, 65 mph wind gusts, whiteouts, and potential for widespread power disruptions. When the temperature in Denver plummeted to - 24F on Thursday, December 22 it was the lowest it had been in 32 years. A coastal flood warning was in force in Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday.