Deaths of four people investigated as 'potentially weather-related,' forensic center says
It is possible four people have died due to the ice storm that swept Memphis in a freeze, downing icicled trees that yanked power lines to the ground.
"We are currently investigating four deaths as potentially weather-related," said Benjamin Figura, director at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Figura provided the update by email Monday afternoon, the fifth day since Winter Storm Landon deposited ice across the city.
Figura did not provide further specifics about the causes of death or details about the identities of the deceased.
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At the peak of the power outages, 140,000 households in the city were without power, according to the Memphis, Light, Gas and Water outage map. Many have had power restored, but 60,000 customers were still without power Monday afternoon.
MLGW CEO J.T. Young said Monday the utility hopes to have nine out of 10 customers with electricity by midnight. At 4:30 p.m., about 86% of the utility's customers had power. Young said his goal of 90% with power was an estimate and it may not happen.
He said the later stages of the restoration are likely to be more tedious and work-intensive than the previous four days of restoration and customers could lack power throughout the week.
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The National Weather Service in Memphis reported low temperatures in the 20s since Thursday, when the storm came through.
Thursday, the low was 27 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by daily lows of 22 degrees. Monday's low was 25 degrees, according to NWS data.
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Commercial Appeal reporter Samuel Hardiman contributed.
Laura Testino covers education and children's issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @LDTestino
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis deaths investigated as 'potentially weather-related'
