The Aftermath of the Winter Storm: Was Texas Prepared?
The state of Texas has been left horribly devastated after an unusual snowstorm covered all the land just last week. Millions of people were stuck without water and electricity, which included heat, for multiple days. Roads were slippery and highly dangerous from the black ice hidden on the pavement. Residents were unable to obtain the resources needed to drink fresh water or have heat within their homes. Thousands of families experienced broken pipes within their walls which had frozen over, causing a huge explosion-like mess that created flooding and devastation inside their homes. Over 7 million people were stuck under a boil-water mandate which affected 204 Texan counties, some of which had no running water. Residents were left piling up snow from the street or their balconies, and they would boil the snow until it was distilled water. At least 80 people have been recorded deceased after the winter storm swept the state. If Texan officials had prepared for the storm as they had been warned, the state wouldn’t be in such despair from the aftermath of the natural disaster.
Thankfully, the storm has passed. It is now time for Texans to rebuild and re-stabilize after experiencing a storm of such power; however, it is important to note that state operators were warned about the storm. According to the Washington Post, both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), warned Texans about the storm that was soon to come. The first warning was announced as early February 5th, when the NOAA proclaimed that unusually cold weather, including winter storms, was soon to hit the central and southern parts of the United States. This was announced 10 days prior to the storm’s arrival, leaving plenty of time to prepare for an emergency situation. The NOAA released a map that depicted the change in weather for the southern states, along with a warning of weather dropping 80% below the average temperature from Texas to the Dakotas. The map visuals were created specifically for “utilities and financial firms to anticipate changes in prices for fuels used for heating, such as natural gas.”
Texas was expected to experience this weather from at least the 11th of February until the 15th, however; it was soon clear to the NOAA that this storm was bigger than anticipated and would last longer than expected. Unfortunately, Texans did not foresee the upcoming weather as a threat or problem. On February 12th, the ERCOT senior meteorologist, Chris Coleman, announced that the upcoming winter storm would “go down in Texas weather history as one of the most extreme events to ever impact the state. Temperatures early next week will set widespread daily records that are likely to be the coldest experienced since the 1980s.”
Coleman then warned, “In addition to the extreme temperatures, two major winter storms are projected over the next week. The first will begin on Sunday with near-blizzard conditions in West Texas. The storm will spread eastward Sunday night into Monday, impacting the entire state with widespread snow, sleet, and ice. A second storm appears increasingly strong as it’s set to arrive around next Wednesday with more snow and ice.” As the state was quickly overtaken by freezing cold temperatures, power grids began shutting down as a result of system failure from the cold. Within a matter of hours, millions of people began experiencing a rolling blackout, which covered the state and wiped away all the power for days. Residents were warned to keep their sink slightly running, so that the pipes wouldn’t freeze over and explode within their homes; however, thousands of houses were left with broken pipes.
Even though Texas received a winter storm warning on February 5th, there still wasn’t enough time for ERCOT to prepare. There were many utilities needed to prevent power shortages and a ten day warning was not enough. Many state officials defended themselves after receiving hate for a lack of helpfulness by claiming Texas never experienced weather like this in the past, so how could they have prepared? Unfortunately, Texas did experience something similar to this year’s winter storm a few years back. According to the Texas Tribune, Texans faced extreme power shortages in January, 2014 when power grids buckled as a result of cold weather.
Texas shouldn’t wait any longer to begin preparation for the next winter storm. State officials must demand certain changes to be made, in hopes of avoiding another winter storm devastation within the years to come. Senator Ted Cruz attempted to escape his own state this past week while traveling to Cancun, Mexico with his family. Once he received backlash for leaving his state behind in despair, he returned to Texas and blamed his hopeful vacation on his two young daughters, claiming he “wanted to be a good dad.” It is unfortunate that Texas was left to deal with such disaster and heartbreak; however, the state has begun to rebuild and reunite.
It is expected that within the weeks to come, there could be a food shortage in Texas. After the winter storm froze everything in its sight, a majority of the produce growing on farms have been killed. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been severely affected by the storm, leaving farmers devastated with their months of work. Food banks will be greatly affected by the lack of produce, leaving them to find resources from further away. Dante Galeazzi, chief executive of the Texas International Produce Association stated that “at this time, it also looks like next year’s crop will be greatly diminished if we have anything at all. Crop damage so far is estimated at $305 million,” he said. “The wind blew too hard for any precautions to work, really.” Many farmers are left dealing with the storm’s aftermath as many were not covered by insurance, leaving them with a horribly unexpected loss.
It is without a doubt that the winterstorm of 2021 horribly affected the state of Texas. It was a natural disaster that created chaos and heartbreak, as many were left without power, heat, or water. People experienced freezing cold temperatures within their own homes, and others faced flooding from exploded pipes. Luckily, congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Texas rep. Beto O’Roukre have raised over 5 million dollars for the Texas Relief Fund alongside FEMA. Now, the state of Texas must take the time to thoroughly prepare for the next winter storm that hits, all while repairing the loss and damage from last weeks disaster. It is important to provide the necessary resources for all victims of a natural disaster, prepared or not.
