As the snow begins to melt from the winter storms in Houston this week, Houston Mayor John Whitmire reported that no fatalities have been reported due to traffic accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning this week.
As the city begins to move forward, Mayor Whitmire held another press conference Wednesday afternoon to provide the latest information on efforts to keep residents safe and warm.
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To start off, Whitmire announced that there had been no deaths in Harris County caused by car wrecks or carbon monoxide ingestion, two of the biggest killers during severe cold weather events. Whitmire commended the community for listening to the advice from public officials and staying indoors with caution.
“I think the city administration, the city as a whole the citizens have been successful by any measurement,” Whitmire said.
Whitmire was also complementary of the work of essential workers who provided warming centers for many homeless Houstonians, a demographic he again referred to as the “most vulnerable” members of our community.
1,300 individuals visited warming centers across the city.
The mayor also praised the city’s actions during major events in the Houston area over the last weeks, including the law enforcement response to the murder of Brazoria County deputy Jesus “Jesse” Vargas, the Houston Marathon last weekend and the city’s parades for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“I just can emphasize enough what a great city was on demonstration [...] We’re not perfect, but we’re damn-near close to perfect with the way we handled this storm,” Whitmire said.
MORE INFO: Procession held for slain Brazoria County deputy Jesus Vargas
The mayor also reiterated that, although the largest quantities of snow seem to have subsided, there is still ice present on highways, and driving conditions can still be dangerous.
“There [are] still mobility issues, there is still ice on some of our bridges and roads, so slow down; be cautious,” Whitmire said.
The city’s airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, reopened Wednesday morning as planned, and many Houstonians have gotten back on the roads compared to this time yesterday—albeit with caution.
Whitmire was joined by officials from the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management, the Houston Police Department, and the Houston Fire Department, among other organizations at the Houston Emergency Center.
