Florida Death Toll from Hurricane Irma Rises to 12

State officials are raising the number of deaths in Florida from Hurricane Irma to 12 from the previous seven. That brings the total death toll in all areas affected by the storm to 55. McKinley Lewis is a spokesman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Lewis says six people died in car crashes, four while engaged in storm preparations, one was electrocuted by a downed power line, and another had a cardiac issue. Officials have reported 37 deaths in the Caribbean, four deaths in South Carolina, and two deaths in Georgia. Carbon monoxide expelled by generators has killed one man in South Carolina and sent two people to the hospital in Florida. Sumter County, South Carolina, Coroner Robert Baker Jr. says 54-year-old William McBride was pronounced dead Tuesday after he was found lifeless at his mobile home, where a generator was running inside. Polk County, Florida, spokesman Kevin Watler says fire rescue crews have treated patients in Lakeland and Lake Alfred for carbon monoxide poisoning. He says that in both cases the people were running generators in an enclosed garage. Watler says the most common dangers associated with generators are carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution.
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Florida hurricane irma onetime Source Type: news