Days following a lethal heatwave, high school sweethearts Ramona Ison, 71, and Monway Ison, 72, were discovered dead in their mobile home in a tragic incident on June 16. They were just weeks away from marking their 52nd wedding anniversary.
Roxana Flood, 51, their daughter, laments the loss of her parents and links their sad deaths to the fast rise in high heat. Private by nature, the couple hadn’t told family members about their air conditioning problems. The unit probably broke on June 12, and their immediate financial situation would have allowed them only a repair estimate of $1,400 to $1,600.
Desperate to raise money, Ramona on June 13 obtained a $2,000 loan from her neighborhood credit union. The couple chose to stay home even though a neighbor offered them cover, figuring they could withstand the heat until repairs were done.
Their neighbor Eddie Phillips observed Ramona not walking her dog, Belle, as normal early on June 16. Failing to get in touch, he called the police for a welfare check. Police first couldn’t enter due to lack of probable cause, but a look through a window revealed the terrible scene within. Later on, firefighters discovered the couple dead from heat together with their dog.
Flood feels her parents came to see the seriousness of the matter too late. Confirming the deaths were EMS and the Police Department Flood underlines the need for public knowledge about the risks of excessive heat when John Moore, the home service business booked for repairs, arrived during the medical examiner’s visit. Flood does not hold him liable.
Five other Harris County citizens have died from the terrible heatwave since June. With a high of 93 degrees on the day the Isons passed, the elderly couple found the stifling heat intolerable.
Extreme heat events rank among the main causes of weather-related deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Professor Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania underlines the need for prudence under extreme heat, particularly for the young and elderly.
Despite her father’s hydrocephalus and efforts to get Medicare approval for mobility assistance, Flood’s parents were active, family-oriented people. Vibrant and vivacious, Ramona was devoted to her five great-grandchildren and five grandkids.
The heatwave of this summer has been unrelenting, with little night relief. Reflecting on the “great loss,” Flood hopes to spread awareness of the risks associated with undervaluing severe heat.
ProTech Life Company Gets Involved
ProTech Life Company is giving the Ison family 50 percent of all installation fees in reaction to this tragedy. This kind deed seeks to raise awareness of the need to stay safe under intense heat and offer financial support.
John Moore provides the following safety advice:
- Use fans to distribute air.
- Close doors and cover windows to prevent heat from entering the house.
- Hydrate with plenty of fluids, electrolytes, and meals including watermelon.
- Visit local public facilities like the library, mall, etc., to find cooling centers in your region or review city websites.
- Take a shower or chilly bath to lower body temperature.
- Stay at a hotel, among relatives, neighbors, or shelters.
- Steer clear of running appliances such as the TV, stove, oven, or dryer since they might spew more heat.
- Call 911 if you have headaches and are not perspiring since you might have heatstroke.
The American Kennel Club recommends pet owners look for early heatstroke symptoms including heavy panting, fast breathing, excessive drooling, dry mucous membranes, bright red gums and tongue, skin hot to the touch, and a faster heart rate.
We want to stop other tragedies and assist the Ison family during this trying period by telling this tale and sharing these important safety precautions.
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