A Texas mother was criminally charged on Tuesday after she was found lying on a sidewalk during a snowstorm with her 2-month-old and 1-year-old children.
Ayana McClinton, 30, was charged with two counts of endangering a child by the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the Harris County Sheriff's Office told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
Houston accumulated about one to two inches of snow during Winter Storm Enzo. It is the most snow the area has seen since 1960.
At least 12 people have died as a result of the storm, including seven in Texas.
What To Know
Harris County Sheriff's Office received a call about a woman and her children lying on a sidewalk in front of a business in Houston. Officials responded to the call at around 6:40 a.m.
McClinton "was found to be intoxicated and decided to take a nap outside on the ground," the sheriff's office said. The temperature outside was 28 degrees at the time.
Officials said an open alcoholic beverage was found near the woman and she showed signs of intoxication.
Emergency responders treated the children, who were suffering from cold-related injuries, at the scene before they were transporting them to a local hospital.
The children were released to family members after being cleared by medical personnel.
McClinton was previously charged with driving while intoxicated and assault of a family member, according to court records.
The sheriff's office also responded to a restaurant parking lot on Tuesday after a man who was "possibly unhoused" was found dead. Gonzalez said the death was likely weather-related.
On Tuesday morning, Gonzalez urged Harris County residents to "stay home" and "stay safe" as snow and ice accumulated.
"Going out in these conditions can be DANGEROUS," Gonzalez said.
Areas of Louisiana and Alabama saw over 10 inches of accumulated snowfall. Lake Charles, Louisiana, issued its first-ever blizzard warning on Tuesday. A curfew was established in parts of Louisiana to keep people indoors during the worst parts of the storm.
Major roadways, including the I-10 in Louisiana and Florida, were shut down and thousands of flights were grounded due to the storm.
What People Are Saying
The National Weather Service, in a statement: "A coastal low moving across the northern Gulf of Mexico is producing periods of visibility reducing heavy snow and wind gusts in excess of 35 mph in bands moving onshore."
What Happens Next
Many roads remain closed in the Southern U.S. after Winter Storm Enzo brought inches of snow to cities that typically do not experience snowfall.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·