Deadly cost of heating cutoffs

[IndianaGreen]

This is particularly true now that the nation is in the grips of a deep freeze that has also impacted the UK.

Deadly cost of heating cutoffs

Nicole Colson looks at the increasing numbers of families struggling to pay for heat in one of the coldest winters in decades--and the sometimes deadly consequences.

January 8, 2010

THREE LIVES lost over a $181 utility bill. That's the ugly truth in Detroit, where a house fire killed three people on January 5.

The deaths were entirely preventable. Brothers Marvin Allen, aged 61, and Tyrone Allen, 60, and Lynn Greer, Tyrone's 59-year-old girlfriend, were killed when the Allens' two-story home caught on fire, and they were unable to escape. The Allens' nephew was able to climb out of a second-story window to safety, but Tyrone and Marvin used canes and walkers to get around the house, and were unable to get out.

According to Detroit Fire Department Capt. Steve Varnas, the blaze was most likely sparked by space heaters running to provide warmth to the home in sub-freezing temperatures. The residents, it appears, had been reduced to illegally accessing power in order to heat their house ever since DTE Energy cut the home's electricity in June 2008. "People struggling will try to do whatever they can," Varnas told the Associated Press.

As recently as last month, DTE apparently told Lynn Greer that a deposit of $181 would have to be paid before power could be turned back on.

Charlotte Nash, Marvin and Tyrone's sister, told reporters that her brothers survived on Social Security benefits. "They were good brothers," she said from the driveway of the burned home. "They were caring. If they had a dime and you needed a nickel, they would give it to you."

http://socialistworker.org/2010/01/08/deadly-cost-of-heating-cutoffs

[bluestateguy]

1. That's because they're deadbeats who don't pay their bills!

:sarcasm:

[nightrain]

2. knr. Thanks for letting us know.... horrible and totally preventable!

[glowing]

3. Utilities should be controlled, operated, and run by the govt. Then in economic instability,

the govt could allow the power or water to continue operating until the family has found a floor under their feet. Independent companies controlling the shut on/ off switch sucks.

[The Doctor.]

4. It's tantamount to murder.

What, you have no money and you're going to freeze to death?

Can you imagine the suffering of our stockholders if we were to give every hard case free energy?

[Lorien]

6. In France during heat waves the government calls all at risk citizens at home

They call three times, and if the person doesn't answer the police come to their home to check on them. They don't encourage people to buy air conditioners because they only make the problem worse by contributing to climate change. It's hard to imagine living in such a civilized Nation.

[paulsby]

7. you fail to mention that france may have a more responsive system NOW after 15,000 heat wave deaths

in 2003.

i realize that the "america sucks and (insert european country here) crowd" doesn't like to hear about any negatives when it comes to the superior european countries, of course.

but facts matter.

note : even the french parliament admitted widespread failure and chronically insufficient care for the elderly.

your post leaves that out.

let the record reflect it


http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2003-09-25-france-heat_x.htm
"The bulk of the victims — many of them elderly — died during the height of the heat wave, which brought suffocating temperatures of up to 104 degrees in a country where air conditioning is rare. Others apparently were greatly weakened during the peak temperatures but did not die until days later.

The new estimate comes a day after the French Parliament released a harshly worded report blaming the deaths on a complex health system, widespread failure among agencies and health services to coordinate efforts, and chronically insufficient care for the elderly.
"

[glowing]

8. At least they investigated, admitted error, apologized, and worked to fix it..

they didn't hide it and say "heck of a job Brownie".

[paulsby]

9. the point stands...

and of course our (thank god) former president was an assmunch on katrina. duh.

but let's remember. in oh so superior france, with their oh so superior healthcare system, where the state SO effectively cares for the less fortunate, ...

FIFTEEN THOUSAND people died during a heat wave.

on a per capita basis, that would be equivalent to about 75k deaths in the US during a heatwave.

and i can guarantee you that if the US lost 1/10 that many during a heatwave, people would be calling OUR country the most incompetent, and callous country on earth, towards its citizens

btw, i love france, speak fluent french, and have spent a lot of time there surfing and learning how to cook

but i'm jsust not under the "US sucks and european countries are so much better illusion" common amongst the anti-american ignorati.

[cutlassmama]

5. They had been stealing electricity since June 2008. It seems like someone

either church or family member could have paid it by now.