Think Katrina!
Absolute Catastrophe!
I am not kidding .
12 million currently have lost water or must boil water.
Hospitals have no water. This is true for 2 in Austin, more have limited water flow.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/winter-storms-cause-dire-water-outages-at-austin-hospitals
Water pipes are breaking right and left. In homes and outside of homes. Breaking as in gushing none stop and no easy way to stop the flow. People are bailing water. Help iis NOT on the way.
3 Million residences are still without power. . In below freezing weather. More than 4 million last night. More freezing temps expected tomorrow, snow too in some places.
Dairy plants have no power so farmers are dumping 8 millions of gallons of milk a day.
The food chain supply is in dire straights. Texans running low on food are finding empty grocery store shelves. Food pantries are running out of supplies. And the freeze has wiped out substantial portions of the state's citrus and vegetable crops. Fruit and vegetable crops in the Rio Grande Valley have frozen over in what The Produce News described as a “Valentine’s Day produce massacre.” School districts from Forth Worth to Houston have halted meal distributions to students for the next several days, a
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-food-supply-power-outage/
This isn't a city problem, it is effecting MOST of the state and the state is huge.
Airports are closed.
Vaccines can't get transported through the state and other states) to reach the west coast states. My parents were supposed to get their second dose in Los Angeles today and all were cancel at their location. Many LA locations. Same with Arizona. I would assume this is true for other states.
With all of the water flooding from burst pipes, I would expect a major housing crisis. Hotels are at full capacity. Even across the boarder into Mexico as was reported On Don Lemon tonight (CNN).
Gas stations are running out of gas.( If they even have power) In Texas of all places.
Don't get me started on the mayor of Colorado City Texas.
Never have I ever...thank goodness he resigned.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tim-boyd-mayor-colorado-city-texas-resigns-power-outages/
So, not only do we all need to continue to send a huge amount of light and love to those suffering and those who will continue to suffer, we really need to think about Biden.
Why Biden?
Because if he is not really careful, this willl be his Katrina. He has been pretty silent (which is sorta ok because Gov. Abbott has been working very hard on digging his own grave) but he really needs to figure out how to walk this minefield. And it is a HUGE political minefield with peoples lives at stake.
Haven't heard much about FEMA except they are sending 60 generators Texas asked for. 60 will barely over hospitals and water plants. Do we even have a Biden FEMA person in charge yet?
We really need Biden to figure out how not to be seen and act as Bush during Katrina.
Or worse. He needs to be seen as positively responding to this crisis and while walking political the minefield that will be the Texas GOP.
Lots of strength, love and compassion to Biden and Harris. The same for the people suffering. ❤️
I'm not completely in the loop, but is it 'only' Austin that doesn't have electricity available or rural areas as well?
At last count, 3 million were estimated to currently be out of power across the state. 7 million are under a boil water order. Nearly 1 million in Austin alone.
That is quite an ordeal! However, it seems like the city might be on its feet faster than the countryside? Easier to fix one spot than things dotted out over swats of land? Forgive me if I'm ignorant here.
You are absolutely right. I don't think Biden will let them suffer, as a matter of fact he already responded. We know he's not the type to be spiteful either (unlike the GOP and former occupant of the White House, regardless of the fact that the Texas GOP have been, and does anyone remember Rick Perry's rally and they all chanted "let them die" when they spoke about Obama care?) Thank God and the Universe we have a caring leader in Biden. We will see what unfolds but here are some links on what's been done so far:
I also wanted to include a link of information on how anyone you know can help those in Texas now:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/us/texas-winter-storm-how-to-help-iyw-trnd/index.html
I'm also praying that the hearts and minds of Texans are opened to reveal how the Corporate Power greed and their GOP have been lying to them. Not shoring up their power grids, not protecting their water supply and denying climate change. Not the way I would have wanted to see people finally realize these things. I pray for their safety, health, warmth and awakening. This is also a problem throughout our country and I pray climate change gets tackled soon - alongside covid etc.
@moonbeam I don't live in Texas but I do live in a state that has common weather-related power outages. It's true that electricity is usually restored to the cities first. The utilities will prioritize fixing the lines and stations that serve the most people, which is as it should be -- they use their resources to do the most good for the most people first. If you're out in the country and a tree falls on your line--- a line that serves only your house--- you're going to be last priority.
But on the other side, rural people are generally more well-prepared than those in the city. They're more likely to possess generators, food stockpiles, freezers, wood stoves and fireplaces, etc. So it kind of evens out the impact a little.
That said, I agree with others that Biden has got to to jump in and send out the National Guard and whatever other resources he can muster ASAP. Unlike northern states, Texas is totally unprepared for this magnitude of winter storm.
So true. When the Blizzard of 1993 came through Tennessee, it was eight days before electricity was restored to our home.
We survived because our house (built in 1920) had a wood-burning stove that doubled as our cooking stove. We actually had soup, pancakes, and other luxuries that others were denied during that time. Also, we had a fireplace that was connected to natural gas, which didn't need electricity.
That is not to say we didn't suffer. All of our food in the freezer went bad, and we were struggling to keep my sister's insulin at the right temperature range so it would stay effective. Also, many fish in our pond froze, and some of our beloved peach trees died.
Still, Texas has it worse right now. Mostly because their Republican leaders are trying to blame the entire situation of Democrats (yes, I heard the rant about how the wind turbines froze, but considering how it accounts for such a small portion of the population, I fail to see how they can blame Democrats for the outage.
@triciact will the Republican public in Texas see the light though? The hatred of democrats and anything 'liberal' runs deep. I've seen the documentaries about the lovely white suburbs. Places that had/have great schools and perfect '50s neighborhoods' that turn out to be racist Valhallas where the N word and lynching are considered fun words.
I hope so very much that people will open their eyes. Just as I hope that everybody will be okay. However, I think I can speak for a large part of Europe that we're all still in shock at how much racism and hatred is prevalent in the States. I don't think many realized until 45 skittered out from under his rock and was elected.
That said, again, I hope and pray for them all. I hope rural folks are prepared well enough and the city dwellers will get their utilities back fast. I especially worry about the poor. They will have it rough since housing is usually already bad for them. Who will help these people?
Sending light to Biden. May his empathy translate to solutions. ❤️
I live in Texas and it's simply infuriating and frustrating just how many people are so brainwashed by fox news propaganda. I'm appalled that in the middle of the middle of a crisis, tv networks have the gall to blame, inaccurately, the green new deal and wind turbines for the cluster**** that is the Texas electrical grid. simply unbelievable. Green energy accounts for about 10 to 15% of all texas energy. I'm seriously sick of all this propaganda, it needs to be illegal.
We are here today, most of us, without power and water because of corporate greed that begun ins 1930's and continues to build onto today. The Texas electrical grid was created in the 30s to avoid federal oversight and maximize the profit of a rich few. This toxic culture, that brands the federal gov with such distrust and idolizes the " do it alone" attitude over helping one another or seeking help must end, we really cannot go on believing that seeking help is a handout.
Hopefully, this crisis that we are in today serves as a stark reminder of what conservatism really is and what it has evolved to in the politics of today; one that has allowed conservative Ted Cruz to abandon his constituents woes and travel abroad with his family, and will do so without repercussions.
rant over.
How is your power and water situation?
My daughter is still housing her boyfriend and his roommate, still no power and water for them but she has both. His parents live in San Antonio and have no water. They have a few bottles of drinking water and are boiling snow for everything else. They are fortunate.
@moonbeam @allyn @ana @blackandwhite
Moonbeam you are right - the racism and hatred of the dems/liberals runs deep in Texas. The brainwashing by the GOP and Faux news has been going on for years. I too was deeply saddened by the amount of Americans who have been supportive of the former Occupier of the White House and the base of the GOP party. T was the "exposer in chief" you might say. It was always there, but he enabled those who hid their feelings to be empowered. I intuitively feel that Texas will actually turn blue, if not in the next presidential election, the one following. I already feel that many Texans voted for Biden, more than we may even realize, since the GOP in Texas was very good at voter suppression and many North Eastern people have been moving to the big cities in Texas (primarily Dallas and Austin lately) due to companies moving there.
I actually (through my job) have spoken to several people on the phone who live in Austin that I didn't even know personally, who were upfront about voting for Biden in this last election. I was surprised how many said it to me. I guess I have hope.
Ana and Allyn, I live in CT in the country (small town). We are better prepared for power outages and snow removal here because we have to have a well for water, there's no natural gas so you have either oil or propane, and septic systems etc. We learned the hard way after losing power so many times over the years that a whole house generator was not just a luxury. I also work from home too, so it was definitely needed. The power outages we've endured were never because of a faulty grid per se, but due to high wind storms and in recent years, including tornadoes. The trees in CT grow very high, they are older and they just either get topped or fall completely down during the last 10 years worth of storms we've had.
I'm praying that our brothers and sisters in Texas will be ok and they will wake up and see the light. I have a feeling Faux news will pay a price in the end too for their lies. Many corporate sponsors are abandoning them. Hopefully more will follow.
thank you for asking, I got my electricity yesterday around 5 pm, still not water though. I'm still luckier than most.
I'm glad your daughter is doing fine. I hope the rest of texas at least starts getting some power soon.
@blackandwhite how horrid. How are you dealing? Melting snow? I can imagine no store has a bottle of water left:s
Sending a big, light hug. ❤️
The bad news- much of the Austin area still has no water and those that do have it need to still boil it.
The good news- 90% of power has been restored to Austin.
The inspiring news- Restaurants who are cooking food for people in need with the help of sponsors. Here is a list cuz it is cool to see what people are doing to help.
- The Well at 440 W 2nd St.: 600 free bowls of pho beginning at noon (sponsored by 2nd St District, Sway Spa and private sponsors). After these sell out, sister restaurant TenTen will serve 200 free chicken rice bowls out of their location on 501 West 6th Street.
- Sip Pho at 512 W 29th St.: 300 bowls of pho (sponsored by Austin Winter Storm Relief Fund)
- Veracruz at The Line Hotel at 111 E. Cesar Chavez St.: 300 free tacos beginning at 5 p.m. (sponsored by Austin Winter Storm Relief Fund)
- Vaquero Taquero at 104 E. 31 St.: 125 meals from 11 a.m. – 3p.m. (sponsored by Red Bull USA)
- Hestia at 607 West 3rd Street #105: 1,200 total meals from 2-5 p.m. (sponsored by Spa Sway, Austin Winter Storm Relief Fund and others)
- Maggiore’s at 1420 Cypress Creek Road #1000: 115 meals starting at 11:30 a.m. (sponsored by Affinipay)
- Tommy Want Wingy at 121 Pickle Road: 125 meals starting at 11 a.m. until it runs out (sponsored by Red Bull USA)
- Dipping Springs Tenders at 979 Springdale Road: 50 meals from 1-5 p.m. (sponsored by Austin East Ciders)
- Thai Fresh Sponsor at 909 W Mary St.: 200 meals beginning at 1:30 p.m. Text curbside 512-200-7423 and mention 365austin for one free meal per person (sponsored by Austin Winter Storm Relief Fund)
- CM Smokehouse @ Bouldin Acres at 2027 South Lamar: 275 meals starting at 3 p.m. (sponsored by Samantha Ushiro)
- Uncle Nicky’s at 1123 East 11th and 4222 Duval Street: 200 meals at each location from 2-6 p.m. (sponsored by Affinipay)
- Flyrite Chicken at 2129 East 7th St.: 150 meals from noon to when it sells out (sponsored by Karbach Brewing and Bev Wine)
- Rebel Cheese at 2200 Aldrich St.: 25 meals starting at noon (sponsored by Austin Eastciders)
SO happy you now have power. Really hope the water issue is resolved for you. Where in Texas are you located? I know San Antonio has also been hit hard by a lack of water,
Really Good News!
Powered By People, a voter registration organization that is founded by Beto O'Rourke just emailed me today. They have organized a Texas volunteer welfare check call in that can be done by anyone in the country. They already have the network in place for making calls and a built in data base. This is fantastic. The calls are going out to seniors who are a high at risk population.
This is wonderful.
What a difference in comparison from the response from Gov. A-Butt. I mean Abbott.
I absolutely love this story about being a good Samaritan during this freeze crisis. It is beautiful.
If Ted Cruz' slipping away to Cancun in the midst of a severe state-wide emergency doesn't broadcast who he really is, then I don't know what could. THANK YOU Ted Cruz for allowing your hypocrisy to shine through! Hopefully this will give some right wingers some food for thought...