A series of severe winter storms are sweeping across the country this week, already claiming the lives of six individuals as of Wednesday. Ice storms have also caused widespread power outages throughout Texas where more than 300,000 homes and businesses are currently without power.

This storm is part of a winter weather system that is currently impacting a large portion of the country from Minnesota to Texas and moving northeastward as the week continues. Forecasts show continued ice storms and windchill warnings, with temperatures predicted to reach dangerous levels in states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maine, among others.

Health Risks and Power

Power outages of varying durations pose a particular risk for people who use electricity-dependent durable medical equipment (DMEs), including wheelchairs, ventilators, insulin pumps, and other equipment. Devices which require continuous power may not be available, nor backed up to generators. Devices that require charging may become unavailable over time depending on the length of the outage.

Direct Relief’s Response

Direct Relief is actively monitoring the current conditions across the country and is in contact with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers and the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics to assess needs and gather additional information about conditions within the impacted communities.

Direct Relief and other members and supporters of the health care safety net will continue to monitor the exposure of medically vulnerable people to power outages throughout the ongoing winter storms both in Texas and across the United States.

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to extreme weather in Texas, including the severe weather and subsequent widespread Texas power grid failures in February 2021.

The organization continues to provide safety-net support, with more than $200 million in medical aid sent to the state since 2008.