NEW: The true number of people killed by the disastrous winter storm and power outages that devastated Texas in February is likely four or five times higher than the 151 deaths the state has acknowledged, a BuzzFeed News analysis has found. buzzfeednews.com/article/petera…
Our analysis, reviewed by three leading experts in excess deaths studies, suggests that between 426 and 978 more people than expected died in Texas in the week ending February 20 alone. Our best estimate is that 702 people were killed by the storm in that week.
Most of the uncounted victims of the storm and power outages were already medically vulnerable with chronic conditions. But without the intense cold and stress they experienced during the crisis, many of these people would likely still be alive today. 
Among those, his family believes, was 80-year-old Julius Gonzales. On February 15, Gonzales went to a dialysis appointment, only to find that the clinic had lost power.
His house was also without power, and nearly 20 degrees overnight. By the next morning, he was dead.
His house was also without power, and nearly 20 degrees overnight. By the next morning, he was dead.
On paper, Gonzales’s death has nothing to do with the storm. He had health problems, his wife Mary acknowledged, but she believes her husband of 58 years didn’t have to die that day:
“I still believe the cold made him to where his heart just gave out.” buzzfeednews.com/article/petera…
“I still believe the cold made him to where his heart just gave out.” buzzfeednews.com/article/petera…
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