Houston Ice Storm: 1 Death From Hypothermia, New Updates

HOUSTON, TX — The bitter cold Winter Storm of 2018 has claimed its first life. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that a homeless man was found dead on the 6600 Block of Telephone Road on the south side of town with signs of hypothermia.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said two others are suffering from hypothermia from the storm that has blanketed Houston with snow, sleet, freezing rain, icy roads and blow-freezing temperatures for yet another night.

There have been more than 100 highways in the region designated as icy, all HOV lanes in the city have been closed and all toll fares have been waived until noon Wednesday.

Houston ISD will close again on Wednesday as will most local school districts. There have been more than 1,570 flights cancelled nationwide today, including 866 from Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport. Most major highways leading to the airport have become icy and many ramps and garages at the airport — and part of JFK Blvd. — have also been closed because of ice.

Furthermore, Turner in his late afternoon conference thanked the residents who stayed off the roads on Tuesday, but also pleaded that unless it's a dire emergency, "Please stay off the roads if you can."

Here are the update facts [3:15 p.m.] about Winter Storm 2018:

• Police Chief Art Acevedo said there were 300 reported vehicle accidents Tuesday
• A CenterPoint representative said they'd restored power to more than 90,000 customers in then last 24 hours and that 8,000 people were still without power as of 5:25 Tuesday evening.

• CenterPoint reported that 8,000 homes in Cinco Ranch had low pressure on gas today, and that they're working to fix the problem
• HISD schools and offices will be closed again Wednesday and will resume Thursday
• There have been more than 1,550 flight cancellations across the nation today, with 866 of those from Bush Intercontinental Airport
• There have been 125 cancellations at Hobby Airport and Southwest Airlines has cancelled all flights the rest if the night
• Four international flights were cancelled at Bush Airport today
• If you see downed power lines, call 3-1-1
• If you observe any accidents or other weather-related items, call 713-225-5627 in the county
• Rail service will continue but Metro suspended bus service at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night
• In the county, there have been 200 reports of traffic accidents (27 of them major) and 100 roadways impacted by ice
• The Galleria has closed for the day and will reopen Wednesday when it deems safe enough for employees to get to work
• The Woodlands Mall is closed
• All area tolls have been waived until noon Wednesday. However, the interchanges to other major thoroughfares are closed
• TxDOT continues to put material on the roads to make it a little more drivable
• Citizens are encouraged to call 3-1-1 to report any icy conditions they observe
• Homeless folks are being taken to warming shelters
• Lots of new "warming" shelters have opened up, including Pleasant Grove and South Main Baptist Churches for anyone who may have lost heat in their homes
• Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena encourages residents to use precation when using fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles and space heaters
• Pena added that HFD responded to 20 structure fires already
• Hospitals have enough space to take in patients as needed (last week they were at capacity because of the flu epidemic)
• Pena said to keep a stockpile of food, blankets and flashlights to weather the storm
• Some of the homeless camps have started fires to keep warm
• Houston City Council will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday instead of 9
• Tier 1 city employees (all essential personnel) are to be at work and Tier 2 employees are up to the super of each department. Tier 3 city employees will continue to work from home until further notice
• Municipal court is cancelled tonight and Wednesday evening as well

Patch will continue to update this as night falls.

Image: Icicles hang off the front of a vehicle as the temperature continues to fall below freezing Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in Houston. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in Texas, where frigid temperatures have left runways and roads dangerously icy. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Houston area on Tuesday. Sleet and freezing rain are forecast for parts of the state. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)