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arbon monoxide poisoning from generators poses new threat in areas hit by Hurricane Laura

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Sat, 2020-08-29 11:09 — mike kraft

Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators poses new threat in areas hit by Hurricane Laura <p>Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators appears to have killed more people in Louisiana and Texas than Hurricane Laura itself, claiming at least eight lives along the Gulf Coast, where the storm destroyed buildings and left roughly 500,000 without power.</p> <p>The threat associated from generators looms as more than 230,000 customers in Louisiana remain without power, including more than 80,000 in Lake Charles and nearby towns and parishes. In East Texas, nearly 90,000 people lost power, according to Entergy.</p> <p>While the exact death toll from the destruction left by Laura remains unclear — 12 fatalities in Texas and Louisiana combined are reported so far — the number of carbon monoxide deaths alarmed local officials who warn that while generators can be lifesaving appliances during natural disasters, they can also be harmful when not used safely.</p> <p>The first reported carbon monoxide deaths happened in Lake Charles, where the storm did much of its damage. A family of five had a generator running in the garage after losing power but left a door to the home partially open, allowing gas to get inside.</p> <p>Sheletta Brundidge, a relative who lives in Minnesota, identified the four dead as Kim and Chris Evans, Rosa Lewis, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and Clyde Handy. A fifth person, Charles Lewis Sr., is in critical condition at a Lake Charles hospital.</p> <p>Rosa and Charles Lewis were Kim Evans’s parents and all lived in the home, Brundidge said. Handy is Rosa Lewis’ brother and stayed with them on Thursday night because he lost power from the storm and the Evans had a generator. Brundidge’s father had spoken with the family as recently as Thursday.</p> <p>“Everything was fine, they had a blown out window or something but no...</p> By Nick Powell and Dylan McGuinness, Staff writer HoustonChronicle.com

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