>>>
>>> THE
>>> THE 411, EN KHOU 11 NEWS. >>> RIGHT NOW ON THE 411,
MILLIONS OF TEXANS STILL REMAIN
WITHOUT POWER, AS TEMPERATURES
BEGIN PLUNGING AGAIN.
GOVERNOR AVID PROMISING TO WORK
TO GET POWER BACK ON.
>> WELL, I CALLED TODAY, FOR AN
EMERGENCY ITEM TO BE ADDED TO
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO
INVESTIGATE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
AND NOT DONE, BECAUSE THEY SAID
THEY WERE PREPARED FOR THIS.
>> WE HEAR MORE FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND WHAT ENERGY
COMPANIES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW
TO RESTORE POWER.
>> RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 1.3 MILLION
HOMES AND BUSINESSES POWERED BY
CENTER POINT IN THE HOUSTON
AREA ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER.
A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND
CUSTOMERS DID HAVE THEIR POWER
RESTORED TODAY, BUT OTHERS ARE
STILL WITHOUT HEAT AS
TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO DROP YET
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN. >>> A LIVE LOOK OUT AT THE
GALLERIA AREA, YOU CAN SEE SOME
SNOW IS ON THE GROUND IN SOME
PLACES INCLUDING ON THE ROADS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE
411, I AM RON.
>> ADDISON IS WITH US FOR THE
NEXT HOUR, WE BEGIN WITH HIM
AND ANOTHER WINTER STORM THAT
IS ON ITS WAY TONIGHT, ADDISON.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ROUND
NUMBER TWO ON THE WAY FOR THIS
WINTER STORM WARNING, BEING PUT
IN PLACE FOR THE APPROACH OF
THE UPCOMING SYSTEM WHERE THE
PREDOMINANT CONCERN WILL BE
FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET, WE ARE
TALKING EVERYONE AROUND THE
HARRIS COUNTY AREA, HIGHWAY 59,
DEALING WITH ABOUT A 10th OF AN
INCH OF THAT FROZEN
PRECIPITATION.
PRECIPITATION. BUT NORTH AND WEST, MONTGOMERY
COUNTY FOR INSTANCE, YOU MAY
SEE UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH
OF ICE COME ON DOWN.
WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE
CLOUDS MOVE ON IN OVER THE
COURSE OF THE DAY TODAY, WE DID
GET SOME SUN TO SHINE DOWN
EARLIER ON NOW THE CLOUDS ARE
THICKENING UP AROUND HERE.
IT IS DROPPING INTO THE FRIGID
AIR ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE
TEXAS PANHANDLE AND IT WILL
SWING OVER THIS WAY AS WE MAKE
OUR WAY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, AND
IN THROUGH TOMORROW.
GOING IN PAST MIDNIGHT, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT FREEZING RAIN
COMING OUR WAY FOR MANY
LOCATIONS WITH WINTRY MIX OF
SLEET AS WELL.
BY THE COASTAL AREAS, YOU WILL
IKELY SEE COLD RAIN COME ON
DOWN.
DOWN.
DOWN. AS
DOWN. AS YOU HEAD OUT FOR WEDNESDAY,
WE WILL SEE THAT TRANSITION
WITH RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AS
WELL AS SOME SLEEP, IT IS THAT
RAIN SNOW LINE MEANDERING
ACROSS THE METRO AREA BACK AND
FORTH OVER THAT COASTAL WELL
HANGING RIGHT ON THE SHORE.
BY THURSDAY ON THE BACKEND OF
IT, WE HAVE SLEET AND SNOW
COMING ON IN AS WRAPAROUND
MOISTURE COMES AROUND THE SYSTEM
AND BRINGS US ONE FINAL ROUND
OF WINTER WEATHER BEFORE NICER
WEATHER COMES OUR WAY
AFTERWARDS FOR THE WEEKEND
AHEAD.
AHEAD.
AHEAD. >>
AHEAD. >> THAT WEEKEND CAN'T COME SOON
ENOUGH, THANK YOU.
WHEN WILL THE POWER COME BACK
ON?
ON?
ON? THAT
ON? THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION TODAY,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WINTER
STORM IS NOT OVER, STEPHANIE
TALKED WITH CENTER POINT.
>> Reporter: AND ARCTIC BLAST
COVERED TEXAS WITH SNOW AND ICE
AND KNOCKED POWER GENERATORS
OFF-LINE.
OFF-LINE.
OFF-LINE. IN HOUSTON, HALF OF CENTERPOINT
ENERGY CUSTOMES STARTED THE
DAY WITHOUT POWER.
THAT IS MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION
PEOPLE WITH NO HEAT.
>> ERCOT SENDS US THE ORDER,
THE ORDER COMES BECAUSE
GENERATION GOES OFF-LINE.
WHEN THEY GO OFF-LINE, WE HAVE
GOT TO TAKE IT DOWN.
>> Reporter: EXECUTIVE, KENNY,
SAYS THE FOCUS TODAY, IS
RESTORING POWER TO PEOPLE WHO
LOST IT FIRST.
BUT IT IS A TRADE-OFF.
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH POWER, COULD
STILL LOSE IT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TWICE
TODAY, TO TAKE POWER OUT, SO WE
MAY HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT
AGAIN, AND I AM SERIOUSLY
APOLOGIZING FOR THAT.
WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
>> Reporter: WHICH
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL GAIN AND
LOSE POWER NEXT, AND WHEN, HE
WOULD ONLY SAY ROTATING OUTAGES
WILL BE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE
HOUSTON AREA, THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.
DAY.
DAY. >>
DAY. >> IT COULD BE LONGER.
THERE COULD BE YOU KNOW, IT
COULD DEFINITELY GO THROUGH
TODAY.
TODAY.
TODAY. IT
TODAY. IT COULD GO THROUGH THIS
EVENING AND POSSIBLY THROUGH
ANOTHER NIGHT.
ANOTHER NIGHT. >> SO TOUGH TO DIGEST FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE PICK THAT WAS
STEPHANIE BRINGING US THAT
REPORT.
REPORT.
REPORT. CENTER POINT IS HOPEFUL MORE
POWER PLANTS WILL BE BACK
ONLINE TODAY.
ONLINE TODAY. GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TELLS US
HE IS MAKING THE POWER OUTAGES
PLAGUING MILLIONS OF TEXANS AND
EMERGENCY ITEM THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
SESSION.
SESSION. WE SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR
EARLIER TODAY, HE IS CALLING
FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
ELECTRICAL LIABILITY COUNCIL OF
TEXAS.
TEXAS.
TEXAS. THAT IS ERCOT HE WANTS THE
ORGANIZATION TO COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THE
STATE NEVER EXPERIENCES AN
OUTAGE LIKE THIS ONE AGAIN.
>> THE CORE PROBLEM THAT
OCCURRED HERE, WAS IN
INCAPABILITY OF THE POWER
GENERATORS WHICH ARE PRIVATE
COMPANIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE
STATE OF TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO
GENERATE THE POWER TO ADD TO
THE TEXAS GRID.
>> MORE FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT,
THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, THAT IS
COMING UP AT 4:30 PM.
>>> WE ARE CONTINUING TO ASK
QUESTIONS TO ERCOT ABOUT THE
TEXAS POWER GRID AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. >> JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS,
THE SITUATION LOOKS LIKE IT IS
GETTING WORSE.
GETTING WORSE. >> WELL, THAT IS THE NUMBER WE
HAVE GOT TODAY.
AND I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY
I DON'T THINK, WE HAVE HAD SOME
THAT HAVE COME ON AND TRIPPED
OFF, SOME HAVE RETURNED, SO I
DON'T THINK THE WAY WE ARE
SEEING IT IS A YOU KNOW,
CONTINUATION DOWNWARD.
CONTINUATION DOWNWARD. BUT YOU KNOW, SNAPSHOT IN TIME,
WE HAVE HAD SOME UNITS THAT
WERE ON, THAT HAVE COME OFF,
BUT SOME OF THOSE MAY BE COMING
ON VERY SOON.
MAYS -- SOME OF THOSE MAY BE
WIND, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ON AND
THEN GOT FROZEN AND YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH
OBJECT I DON'T THINK IT IS A
SITUATION WHERE WE ARE SEEING
IT CONTINUING TO JUST DECLINE
AND WE ARE CONCERNED IT WILL
GET EVEN WORSE, BUT WE
CERTAINLY DO HAVE A LOT OF
HOURS THAT ARE STILL BEING
DEALT WITH TODAY.
>> WE WILL BE STAYING ON TOP OF
WHAT ERCOT IS SAYING ABOUT
RESTORING POWER THROUGHOUT THE
DAY AND EVENING.
>>> MORE WARNING CENTERS ARE
OPENING UP IN ADDITION TO THE
LARGE ONE AT THE CONVENTION
CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE LIVE NOW.
>> Reporter: ORIGINALLY THE GRP
WAS SET TO HOUSE 500 HOMELESS,
THAT IS NOW UP TO 800, THAT IS
A BIG CROWD, IT HAS BEEN A
LITTLE BIT UNRULY AT TIMES.
HPD IS ON HAND TO MAINTAIN
SECURITY AND THE MAYOR HAS KEPT
IT AT THIS LIMIT.
WARNING CENTERS AND SHELTERS
POPPING UP AROUND TOWN,
LAKEWOOD CHURCH HAS BEEN OPEN
FOR THE DURATION, THEY HAD 180
OVERNIGHT, JUST SPOKE WITH THEM
AND AT LAST CHECK, THEY HAD 200
AND THE CITY MAY BE SENDING
ANOTHER 200 PEOPLE BY METRO
BUS.
BUS.
BUS. NOW
BUS. NOW IN ADDITION TO THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHURCHES,
GALLERY FURNITURE, WHICH YOU
HAVE SEEN ADVERTISED ON THIS
STATION IS OPEN AS WELL.
FOLKS HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED
TRYING TO ARRANGE A RIDE TO GET
TO THESE SHELTERS, VIA 311.
>> LET ME ADDRESS THAT, I KNOW
THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME TIME
LAG WITH 311, BECAUSE MANY OF
OUR OPERATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING
REMOTELY, BECAUSE THE POWER IS
OUT, THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING
THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE SOME OF
THESE 311 CALLS.
>> SO, THE MAYOR IS HAVING THE
311 OPERATORS GO AHEAD AND BUNK
AT THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY
CENTER, WILL FOR THE DURATION,
TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE RESPONSE
TIME AND EFFICIENCY OF THOSE
CALLS.
CALLS.
CALLS. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHELTER?
WELL, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THIS
IS A WEBSITE BY THE STATE, THE
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, TDEM.TEXAS.GOV,
MANAGEMENT, TDEM.TEXAS.GOV, THEY HAVE SHELTERS STATEWIDE
AND IT IS USER-FRIENDLY, THIS
IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I HAVE BEEN POKING AROUND ON
THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, IT IS
REALLY A NICE RESOURCES IF YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR YOURSELF OR
SOMEONE ELSE.
SOMEONE ELSE. THE ONE HERE SPECIFICALLY FOR
THE HOMELESS, THAT HAS BEEN
KEPT FOR NOW.
WE ARE LIVE DOWNTOWN, KHOU 11
NEWS.
NEWS.
NEWS. >>>
NEWS. >>> THIS COLD WEATHER IS BEING
BLAMED FOR SEVERAL DEATHS, A
WOMAN AND A LITTLE GIRL DIED
FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING,
CAUSED BY A CAR RUNNING IN A
GARAGE TO KEEP THEM WARM.
THIS HAPPENED ON LaROCHE
STREET, IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON
COME EARLY THIS MORNING.
TO OTHER PEOPLE AT THE HOME
WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT
HAS RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE CALLS
OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
14 PEOPLE INCLUDING AT LEAST
SEVEN CHILDREN, WERE TAKEN TO
THE HOSPITAL IN THE LAST 24
HOURS, THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY
WERE ALL USING GRILLS, TO HEAT
THEIR HOMES TO.
>>> LOCAL LEADERS FEAR MOM WROTE
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
DEATHS COULD HAPPEN AS PEOPLE
TRY DIFFERENT WAYS TO KEEP WARM
INSIDE THEIR HOMES.
TIFFANY JOINS US NOW WITH WAYS
YOU CAN PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING AT YOUR PLACE.
TIFFANY?
TIFFANY?
TIFFANY? >> Reporter: YOU HAVE HEARD US
MENTION THESE TIPS BEFORE, BUT
THEY ARE WORTH REPEATING,
BECAUSE IN A 12 HOUR TIME SPAN,
100 PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT IN BY
AMBULANCE, TO MEMORIAL HERMANN
HOSPITAL, FOR CARBON MONOXIDE
POISONING.
POISONING. SO THE ER DOCTORS AT THIS POINT
ARE CALLING IT A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
EMERGENCY. >> IT IS NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN,
THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THE
BEST THEY CAN, TO KEEP THEIR
FAMILIES WARM.
FAMILIES WARM. BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THIS
CATASTROPHIC GRID FAILURE,
RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE REGION,
AND WE HAVE FOUR -- FAR TOO
MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER.
>> DOCTOR SAMUEL WORKS AT
MORRILL HERMAN, HE SAYS LOOK
FOR SYMPTOMS LIKE HEADACHES,
NAUSEA, FATIGUE, AND WEAKNESS.
WHEN THINGS GET REALLY BAD, YOU
WILL NEED TO OXYGEN.
CARBON MONOXIDE IS ABSOLUTELY
PREVENTABLE.
PREVENTABLE. THE CDC SAYS DON'T BURN ANYTHING
ON A STOVE OR IN A FIREPLACE
THAT ISN'T PRINTED.
DON'T HEAT YOUR HOUSE WITH A
GAS OVEN.
GAS OVEN.
GAS OVEN. DON'T USE A GENERATOR, CHARCOAL
GRILL, OR A CAMP STOVE IN YOUR
HOUSE.
HOUSE.
HOUSE. IF
HOUSE. IF YOU ARE USING AND OUTSIDE,
MAKE SURE IT IS AT LEAST 20
FEET FROM A WINDOW, DOOR, OR
VENT.
VENT.
VENT. AND
VENT. AND DON'T RUN A CAR OR TRUCK
INSIDE A GARAGE, ATTACHED TO
YOUR HOUSE, EVEN WITH THE DOOR
OPEN.
OPEN.
OPEN. IF
OPEN. IF YOU ARE GOING TO WARM UP,
AND CHARGER PHONES IN THE CAR,
DO IT IN THE DRIVEWAY.
>> LIFESAVING ADVICE FROM
TIFFANY.
TIFFANY.
TIFFANY. ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING STORY
DURING THIS WINTER STORM, A
GRANDMOTHER AND THREE OF HER
GRANDCHILDREN DIED IN A HOUSE
FIRE OVERIGHT IN SUGAR LAND.
THIS HAPPENED ON VISTA LAKE, IN
THE FIRST COLONY AREA,
FIREFIGHTERS SAY WHEN THEY GOT
THERE, THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER
AND HER FRIEND WERE INSIDE BUT
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET OUT, THE
GRANDMOTHER AND THE THREE
CHILDREN DID NOT MAKE IT OUT.
OFFICIAL STILL DON'T KNOW THE
EXACT CAUSE, BUT THEY SAY, THE
FAMILY MAY HAVE LIT A FIRE
PLACE AND CANDLES TO KEEP WARM.
>> WE WERE DEALING WITH AN
UNPRECEDENTED WINTER FREEZE
THAT MANY OF US HAVEN'T SEEN IN
OUR LIFETIMES, WE KNEW THAT
THERE WOULD BE HARDSHIPS, BUT
THIS TYPE OF LOSS IS VERY
DIFFICULT.
DIFFICULT. >>> SO SAD FOR EVERYONE, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE FIRE
HAPPENED HAD BEEN WITHOUT POWER
FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS AT THE
TIME OF THAT BLAZE.
>>> AS WE GET READY FOR THAT
SECOND WINTER STORM, WE WILL
CONTINUE UPDATING YOU ON
OUTAGES, SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
THE KHOU APP.
YOU CAN CHECK THE TEMPERATURES
THE KHOU APP. YOU CAN CHECK THE TEMPERATURESú
ALERTS ABOUT ANY SEVERE
WEATHER.
WEATHER.
WEATHER. >>> MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING ALL
OVER FOR A HEATED PLACE TO STAY
DURING THIS WINTER STORM.
>>> THAT INCLUDES HOTEL
LOBBIES.
LOBBIES.
LOBBIES. WE ARE LIVE, AS SOME HOTELS ARE
MAKING SURE PEOPLE STAY WARM BY
ANY MEANS