Storm leaves more than 3 million without electricity 3:14
(CNN) ––
Extreme temperatures in Texas are causing deaths among humans and animals alike.
After continued power outages hit much of the state earlier this week, animals at the San Antonio Primarily Primates sanctuary were frozen to death.
Here's how you can help the victims of the winter storm in Texas
Among the victims was a chimpanzee, many monkeys, some lemurs and countless birds.
“I never thought that my office would become a morgue.
But it has happened, "Brooke Chávez, CEO of Primarily Primates, told the
San Antonio Express-News.
Chávez said he won't know how many animals have died until the storm subsides.
And the forecasts anticipate more winter weather until this Friday.
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Texas, the state with the most people without electricity 1:51
Sanctuary must decide which animals it can save in the cold in Texas
After an early power outage Monday, Chávez and his 12-person team got down to business.
They began collecting generators, space heaters, propane tanks and blankets to keep their 400 animals warm, the
San Antonio Express-News reported.
But, as temperatures continued to drop, the plan shifted from preservation to evacuation.
A capuchin monkey is pictured at Primarily Primates, Inc. in 2010, in San Antonio, Texas.
"I have never faced a decision like this," Chávez told the newspaper.
"Having to decide who we can save, depending on the predictability of which animals we can catch," he added.
And, while moving to manage transportation, the team began to find dead animals.
'Someone asked me how many animals have died.
I still don't know, ”explained Chávez.
"I know we lost a lot of monkeys, lemurs and tropical birds."
Still, many of the sanctuary's residents were evacuated.
The freezing and snowstorm now threatens the northeastern US.
Some went to the San Antonio Zoo and to a sanctuary near the Oklahoma border.
Others were transferred to the homes of the volunteers.
Chimpanzees remain in the sanctuary, 33 of them.
This, after verifying the difficulty of transporting them, according to
Express-News
.
Primarily Primates continues to ask for donations on its Facebook page.
Extreme cold and tragedies continue
The low temperatures in Texas are not over.
The electrical grid in most of the state ordered more power outages to maintain the grid.
Additionally, Austin Energy has notified its customers of the suspensions through Wednesday and possibly beyond.
The winter storm hitting Texas is dangerous.
Not only for its low temperatures, but for the duration of the cold without truce.
Texas produces more power than any other state, but suffered a blackout anyway
Continuous freezing temperatures do not allow homes and buildings to heat up naturally.
And, without electricity, Texans are forced to improvise to warm up.
Many have turned to heating sources like stoves, generators and even their cars, leading to an increase in carbon monoxide poisoning, CNN affiliate KTRK-TV reported.
Tragedies continue and the death toll rises as the state prepares for more extreme weather.
More than 3 million people in Texas were without power on Wednesday.
Chimpanzees SanctuaryWinter Storm