AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers heard concerns this week about how long it took to restore power for vulnerable seniors following Hurricane Beryl.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services was tasked with reviewing and making any necessary recommendations about the current emergency protocols for facilities housing older people and people with intellectual disabilities.
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In a hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers heard testimony about people’s experiences during and after the July storm.
“So, you have a facility with over 100 residents relying on ventilators, oxygen, dialysis…” said Laurie Christensen, Harris County Fire Marshal. “Imagine that failing during a power outage. Imagine the heat index getting up, well over 85 degrees. Imagine that their lives are hanging in the balance – well, this is a true story that actually happened during Hurricane Beryl.”…