When meteorologists forecasted an impending winter storm for the state of Texas, we didn’t anticipate the debacle of losing power as the temperature drops beyond our state-setting record dreams.
Houstonians are quite familiar with having power outages during hurricane season when the temperature is 90 degrees and above. But losing electricity and embarking upon the potential threat of hypothermia is something new to add to our WTF Bingo Board for 2021.
And yes, the state of Texas has revealed a disturbing reality through its operation of being separated from the national electric grid, and therefore choosing to provide electricity away from federal regulations through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). This significant lousy method has caused over 4 million Texans to go without power for substantial periods.
And to add insult to injury, these frequent power outages are susceptible to lasting for an entire week or more. One minute you may have power, and then within the next few hours, you don’t. The agony of not knowing how long the power will stay is beyond frustrating; It’s starting to feel like a vicious game, and Texans are the hamsters running profusely to get electricity as some reward.
Speaking as a Texan, we like nice tropical weather down here. The cold and snow are cute until it becomes a nuisance that is out of our control. Despite the turmoil we’re all facing to maintain warmth, water, and food that doesn’t spoil, the generosity and kindness that Texans are showing to one another during a crisis touches my soul.
My prayers and condolences go out to the families and loved ones who have lost someone due to our state’s negligence. Read here to learn how low the standards to operate sufficient electricity in Texas have failed us all. No one deserves the treatment we have received for the right to obtain basic human needs. The next step is to determine how we can prevent this from happening again or minimize the magnitude we’ve endured thus far.
The following are some tips and a-ha moments I am discovering during this experience:
1.) Viewing or participating in a neighborhood app helps to keep you informed of outages, restaurant openings, and supplies in the area. Knowing that a subdivision located near us lost power warned me of our cycle of losing control was next. Sadly, we couldn’t receive this critical information from ERCOT.
2.) If you’re not a fan of candles, LED lights provide a great and safe alternative to giving much-needed light.
3.) Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a silent killer with increased hospital visits and brought about death during the winter storm. Here are some CDC guidelines to making sure your family is safe.
4.) The love, care, and concern from your family and friends will help push you through any adversity. Check-ins are crucial and help everyone lean on one another for emotional support as needed.
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Resource Guide Link:
How To Help And Get Help In Texas
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Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee is working on our behalf to get relief for Texans facing this unprecedented crisis. Photo: IG
