Texas weather: Deaths mount as winter storm leaves millions without power

[+primortal Subscriber²]

26 minutes ago, Rohdekill said:

This is yet another example of elected officials failing to perform their duties. 

A properly run government plans for every conceivable possibility and creates a playbook, which is to be shared with all entities involved.  Then have contingency plans for each possible point of failure.

  

It doesn't help that state decided they didn't want to abide by federal regulations so they "broke" all their interconnects to other power grids.  They could have at least gotten some power from the other grids till power was restored.

 

https://www.khou.com/article/news/verify/texas-independent-power-grid/507-6192cf48-4bf4-4a82-8586-0e5c0a549707

[Jim K Global Moderator]

19 minutes ago, techbeck said:

And now a certain celebrity has gone off the deep end claiming the weather in TX is God punishing certain senators.  Like the issues is not affecting all who live there and just a few people.....sometimes people can be such tools.   People cannot just come together and show support for those who are suffering without dragging in extra baggage. 

Who? Not that it really matters when you have state leadership (Gov. Abbott) lying on Fox News ... blaming the "Green New Deal" and wind turbines.

 

Which is worse?  Some celebrity saying idiotic comments or state leadership, like Governor Abbott, lying during/about this crisis?

[techbeck]

3 minutes ago, Jim K said:

Who? Not that it really matters when you have state leadership (Gov. Abbott) lying on Fox News ... blaming the "Green New Deal" and wind turbines.

 

Which is worse?  Some nutty celebrity or state leadership like Governor Abbott?

Both are bad IMO and comments like that are not needed.  Does not help the situation at all.   Now is not the time to push agendas.

[FloatingFatMan]

1 hour ago, ATLien_0 said:

But isn't asking the government for emergency relief , socialism ? 

I saw that Ted Cruz was demanding Biden push for federal relief, which is socialism 

 

But the reality is, just as the far north is is equipped for extreme heat, texas just isn't built for extreme cold

 

This isn't a left vs right energy thing

Everything from natural gas, coal, nuclear and even wind all failed due to poor winterization policies and building codes not meant for this kind of cold   . Texas is built for extreme heat 

 

Wind turbines in the extreme north don't fail, when properly maintained as an example 

 

Perhaps now certain folks might just stop poo pooing climate change, because that's exactly what this is.  More extreme weather in unpredictable places.

48 minutes ago, Astra.Xtreme said:

That's a very narrow way to look at it...  Again, is that actually his responsibility?   If it is, who's to say he wasn't organizing aid remotely?  

Even if he remained in Texas, he's obviously not running around these places in person.  If the state was covered in snow and frozen, nobody is getting around easily anywhere... 

It might not be his direct responsibility, but come his re-election time, people are going to remember he went to Cancun while they froze.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

10 minutes ago, techbeck said:

Both are bad IMO and comments like that are not needed.  Does not help the situation at all.   Now is not the time to push agendas.

Which is exactly what Fox News (Hannity/Carlson/etc) AND Governor Abbott are doing....pushing their anti-renewable agenda...lying in the midst of a crisis.

 

...but let's focus on some "Lord smite thee Texas" ridiculous comment by a "celebrity"?  Sure, it is dumb, but whatever.  Who said this Griffin? Midler? Handler? Stephen King? 

[FloatingFatMan]

43 minutes ago, techbeck said:

Nothing wrong with trying alternative power and I am all for it when the alternatives have been proven.  Seems to be an issue here where alternative wind turbines were not rated for the extreme cold.  Wind turbines need to be able to handle all forms of weather no matter where they are placed.  There are wind turbines all over N IL which never have this problem.  Besides, those are not the reason for the power issues in TX anyway. 

Probably never thought they would get that kind of weather.  Should always plan for the worse and hope for the best.

If wind turbines can't function in the cold, please explain the ones that function quite happily in Alaska, Antarctica, Norway, Sweden, Siberia... Need I go on?

 

This is either a maintenance issue OR someone took kickbacks and cheaped out on crappy turbines.

[techbeck]

8 minutes ago, FloatingFatMan said:

If wind turbines can't function in the cold, please explain the ones that function quite happily in Alaska, Antarctica, Norway, Sweden, Siberia... Need I go on?

 

This is either a maintenance issue OR someone took kickbacks and cheaped out on crappy turbines.

Turbines in colder weather are equipped with heating and deicing features.  Diff materials/designs and such.  Features not installed/used in warmer climates/locations.  Check here....

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2021/02/16/why-wind-turbines-in-cold-climates-dont-freeze-de-icing-and-carbon-fiber/?sh=22d149331f59

[GUNNER]

One of the biggest problems here is the crappy housing construction. A house should be able to retain heat or cold for a few days. But not here houses are so poorly built they cannot retain heat for more than 30 minutes.

I just moved to Michigan from the Austin area last year. My heater broke a few weeks ago went 4 days in 20 degrees during the day and teens at night my house did not go below 55 degrees. So ya they can blame power but the houses are just plain crap.  

[ATLien_0]

11 minutes ago, GUNNER said:

One of the biggest problems here is the crappy housing construction. A house should be able to retain heat or cold for a few days. But not here houses are so poorly built they cannot retain heat for more than 30 minutes.

I just moved to Michigan from the Austin area last year. My heater broke a few weeks ago went 4 days in 20 degrees during the day and teens at night my house did not go below 55 degrees. So ya they can blame power but the houses are just plain crap.  

I suspect in the coming years were going to see building codes change slightly for extreme heat in the north and extreme cold in the south

 

Everything from insulation requirements, to frost proof piping, and back up heating etc. 

 

Turning the heat on in texas may only happen a few weeks out of the year, and rarely do people have backup heat options

 

I have a heat pump system, designed to heat as low at about 20f with backup electric heat strips. I have no gas appliances in my house, so if the power goes out, I'm screwed especially since my house doesn't have wall insulation ,only attic. 

 

In Texas, not only did they lose power, by natural gas lines busted or their is too much demand 

 

Only those that have propane or battery generators seem to be doing ok 

Even if the power companies had winterized, texas would still be dealing with frozen pipes, as pipes aren't below the frost line, and most homes don't have easily accessible shutoffs for outdoor faucets 

[hagjohn]

1 hour ago, Jim K said:

Eh.  Senator Ted Cruz reportedly went to Cancun.  

 

Yea, he couldn't have magically restored everyone's power ...  but just the optics of him fleeing to Cancun while his constituents are without power, freezing and dying...

 

 

 

[shockz]

46 minutes ago, GUNNER said:

One of the biggest problems here is the crappy housing construction. A house should be able to retain heat or cold for a few days. But not here houses are so poorly built they cannot retain heat for more than 30 minutes.

I just moved to Michigan from the Austin area last year. My heater broke a few weeks ago went 4 days in 20 degrees during the day and teens at night my house did not go below 55 degrees. So ya they can blame power but the houses are just plain crap.  

That must be some house in MI... My house can maintain an above 50F margin for about 24 hours in 20F weather with no wind after an extended power outage, and my thermostat being set at 68F prior to the outage. But no, after 48 hours, I'll be in the upper 30s. If it ends up being a sunny day during the outage, I may be able to keep that 50F margin for a while longer. 

 

I've got the expensive foam in the walls, and a mix of traditional insulation/foam in my attic space/vaulted ceilings. House was built in the 2000s. Northeast state here with moderately severe winters (120+ inches of annual snow, lake effect bursts, one >.25 inch ice event a year, several -10F real temp days). We ended up purchasing a diesel generator that can power the heat and fridge breakers. 

 

No house in MI is going to stay 55 degrees with no heat source when it's 20F outside for 4 days. Calling nonsense on that.

[Xenon]

I remember when hurricane sandy hit the east coast and Cancun cruz voted against emergency funding. Also he mocked California over their problems. 

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by Xenon

[Steven P. Administrators]

Apparently Ted Cruz is in damage control mode:

 

No compassion here, it's just about trying to save face. He's still a terrible human being. 

[xMorpheousx416]

Ted Cruz ran off to Cancun to escape the disaster happening in Texas.

 

Beta O'Rourke stays and hosts a virtual event to get people connected, fed, safe and warm.

 

How is that not political? It really does go to show, that when the chips are down... Republicans have serious problems trying to find a spine and the balls to stand and deal with the situation.

 

They'd rather just write legislation to give themselves and the top 1% of this country another tax break... ya know, so they have enough in the bank to leave for sunnier skies while your neighbors are fighting for their next meal.

 

So.. again, what's so political about all that?

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Cruz tossed his kids under the bus...

 

Saying...

 

"With school canceled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon," 

 

What appeared to have happened...

 

(NYT Reporter)

 

For those that defend him and ask what he possibly could have done....just look at Beto O'Rourke.

[techbeck]

Animals are freezing to death at this sanctuary in Texas

 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/us/texas-animal-freeze-trnd/index.html

 

That's just sad.  Hopefully new rules and regs or even individual preventative messures are developed after this calms down so things like this, and others, don't happen. 

[RichardK]

It is more than just the lack of electricity and running water, store shelves are bare, and they don't even try to defend it, and say they don't know when they will have stock again.  TXDOT sent out texts Sunday evening saying that snow removal and de-icing wasn't going to be occurring, and to just stay home because no one was going to come save you if you got stuck.  Gas stations have been closed due to the power outages.

 

It's probably going to be two weeks before we can get basic food again from any grocery store, but I don't want to even give them any money, they don't deserve it, they can't provide a basic service and whine and blame it on the weather.  This country has become such a joke.

 

I know it's my fault, that I don't raise my own cow(s) for beef and milk products (Milk, butter, etc.), my own chickens for eggs and poultry, my own wheat for bread, etc.

 

I am working towards providing for my own electricity needs (solar & wind, and a means to store that power for nighttime use), and my own water needs (drilling a well).

 

That is really what it has come down to.  We all just need to provide for everything ourselves.  But then, we will still be expected to pay taxes for the right to live here.

 

This is probably just me whining, but it is out of pure anger and frustration.  And most of all, disappointment.  While the Republicans are blaming Democrats for all the problems we have, and the Democrats are blaming the Republicans, nothing is being resolved.  Things are not getting any better, it's just getting worse.  Why do we think we even need them at all?  Our President provides no benefit to anyone, and neither does Congress.

 

[techbeck]

5 minutes ago, RichardK said:

It is more than just the lack of electricity and running water, store shelves are bare, and they don't even try to defend it, and say they don't know when they will have stock again.  TXDOT sent out texts Sunday evening saying that snow removal and de-icing wasn't going to be occurring, and to just stay home because no one was going to come save you if you got stuck.  Gas stations have been closed due to the power outages.

 

It's probably going to be two weeks before we can get basic food again from any grocery store, but I don't want to even give them any money, they don't deserve it, they can't provide a basic service and whine and blame it on the weather.  This country has become such a joke.

 

 

Sorry to hear that.  Part of the problem is people panic buying like with COVID.  People buy up the stores and leave little or nothing for anyone else.  First come, first serve.   And weather plays a part in getting the shelves restocked.  If trucks/planes cannot deliver items, then that is a problem.  And how the old saying goes....there are only 2 certainties in life, death and taxes.  Ben Franklin 1789.  I feel for you as I have family in the area that are having issues.  Luckily, they have power now and last count, 300k are still out of power.   https://poweroutage.us/area/state/texas

[neufuse Veteran]

10 hours ago, techbeck said:

Nothing wrong with trying alternative power and I am all for it when the alternatives have been proven.  Seems to be an issue here where alternative wind turbines were not rated for the extreme cold.  Wind turbines need to be able to handle all forms of weather no matter where they are placed.  There are wind turbines all over N IL which never have this problem.  Besides, those are not the reason for the power issues in TX anyway. 

Probably never thought they would get that kind of weather.  Should always plan for the worse and hope for the best.

I said nothing about alternative power... I'm talking about them wanting to be their own power grid and have no dependencies on the national power grid

[techbeck]

10 hours ago, techbeck said:

And now a certain celebrity has gone off the deep end claiming the weather in TX is God punishing certain senators.  Like the issues is not affecting all who live there and just a few people.....sometimes people can be such tools.   People cannot just come together and show support for those who are suffering without dragging in extra baggage. 

👍 My mistake

[FloatingFatMan]

I've been thinking about this over the last hour or so, and a thought occurs to me.

 

As much as I'm loathe in any way to defend Cruz, who is a complete piece of sh**... I have to ask, if any of you were in Texas right now, and had the means to take your family somewhere warmer and safer, wouldn't you immediately do so?  Are we truly castigating someone for doing something we all would have done in his place?

 

I said earlier people would remember what he did when it comes to re-election, and I stand by that.  But I cannot in good conscience truly blame the man for removing his family from a bad situation.  It just would have been better if he'd SENT them and remained to help sorting out the problems, as a public servant is supposed to do.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

21 minutes ago, FloatingFatMan said:

It just would have been better if he'd SENT them and remained to help sorting out the problems, as a public servant is supposed to do.

Isn't the problem that it looked like he was running off with his family rather than staying to help? I don't think anyone would have blamed him for moving his family out of the area, but he didn't mention what he was up to until he returned. Anyone with half a brain would have realised how that would look and would have announced their plan was just for their family before the media reported that he was boarding a plane. But maybe I'm expecting too much from Cruz when I expect him to have at least half a brain.

[+Edouard Subscriber²]

1 hour ago, FloatingFatMan said:

I've been thinking about this over the last hour or so, and a thought occurs to me.

 

As much as I'm loathe in any way to defend Cruz, who is a complete piece of sh**... I have to ask, if any of you were in Texas right now, and had the means to take your family somewhere warmer and safer, wouldn't you immediately do so?  Are we truly castigating someone for doing something we all would have done in his place?

 

I said earlier people would remember what he did when it comes to re-election, and I stand by that.  But I cannot in good conscience truly blame the man for removing his family from a bad situation.  It just would have been better if he'd SENT them and remained to help sorting out the problems, as a public servant is supposed to do.

When someone takes on the responsibility of representing their constituents they also take on a level of expectations with it. That includes not abandoning your post or cut and run as if often used when things turn bad.

Also, whether we like it or not the families are along for the ride as well.

 

Sorry FFM but I can't cut Cruz any slack at all on this. He gave his own constituents the middle finger and effectively abandoned them. There is no excuse for what he has done.

He won't resign as Republicans rarely do that nor will he lose his next election but he deserves a metaphorical black eye delivered right between the eyes from those who gave him their vote.

 

[FloatingFatMan]

2 hours ago, Nick H. said:

Isn't the problem that it looked like he was running off with his family rather than staying to help? I don't think anyone would have blamed him for moving his family out of the area, but he didn't mention what he was up to until he returned. Anyone with half a brain would have realised how that would look and would have announced their plan was just for their family before the media reported that he was boarding a plane. But maybe I'm expecting too much from Cruz when I expect him to have at least half a brain.

He's a senator... What's this HALF a brain business?

 

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