The brutal cold snap that has frozen Texas hasn't only numbed unprepared people to the bone – thousands of turtles have been caught off guard too.
Thousands of sea turtles unused to the plunge in temperatures have been washing up on the beaches of South Padre Island, off the southern coast of Texas. Volunteers have brought some 4,700 of them to a convention centre, where they are being kept in tubs and enclosures before they can be released when the water is warmer.
"It's an unprecedented event," said Wendy Knight, executive director of research and conservation centre Sea Turtle Inc, which has been helming the effort. Ms Knight said normally only 100-500 turtles wash up on the beaches in south Texas each winter.
Millions of Texans have been left without heat due to energy blackouts in the state triggered by a cold spell in which both air and water temperatures have dropped well below typical levels.
Video shot by Ed Caum, executive director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, shows volunteers carefully placing the animals on a trolley, and then the convention centre floor covered in turtles of all shapes and sizes.
Mr Caum refers to the turtles as being "cold-stunned" – a condition where cold-blooded animals suddenly exhibit hypothermic reactions such as lethargy and an inability to move when the temperature in the environment around them drops.
"We've brought them to the convention centre to get their core temperatures back up," said Mr Caum, narrating one of the videos.
In the latest video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Caum related how the centre's power and water supplies were restored overnight.
"We've expanded down both wings. The heat is coming back up in the corridor," Mr Caum says as the video shows a passageway filled with turtles lying end-to-end on blue canvas.
"We've collected a lot, now, we'll try to save them," Mr Caum said.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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