Texas....a lesson for the entire nation

[Don M.]

Texas, and it's people have really been impacted by the breakdown of their infrastructure. We are ALL under the possibility of having to face a similar situation. While most States are far better equipped to handle such a weather event, the need to improve and maintain our basic needs must be given a high priority.

Much of our infrastructure is decades old....highways, bridges, utilities, etc., etc. Many of the nations water systems, for example, are so old that the underground pipes are increasingly at risk of failure.

If this Texas mess teaches us anything, it is that these systems require constant maintenance and improvement. Millions of dollars spent now could easily prevent billions of dollars in damage in the future.

Hopefully, this tragedy will capture the attention of our people, AND politicians, and set a priority to begin to replace/repair our infrastructure. so as to minimize the possibility of similar events in coming years.

 

[Jeni]

Texas, and it's people have really been impacted by the breakdown of their infrastructure. We are ALL under the possibility of having to face a similar situation. While most States are far better equipped to handle such a weather event, the need to improve and maintain our basic needs must be given a high priority.

Much of our infrastructure is decades old....highways, bridges, utilities, etc., etc. Many of the nations water systems, for example, are so old that the underground pipes are increasingly at risk of failure.

If this Texas mess teaches us anything, it is that these systems require constant maintenance and improvement. Millions of dollars spent now could easily prevent billions of dollars in damage in the future.

Hopefully, this tragedy will capture the attention of our people, AND politicians, and set a priority to begin to replace/repair our infrastructure. so as to minimize the possibility of similar events in coming years.

while i agree that many things need to be done what has always happened is that politicians throw money and it is all used up by BS and the projects get kicked down the road.....
every time something happens this discussion comes up but nothing is done in the end...... but planning and replanning maybe some catered meetings that work good for photo shoots..... and PR ......

 

[Gaer]

This cold spell was a FREAK SUDDEN crazy out of no- where Even in New Mexico, a sudden temperature drop.
Those poor souls in Texas were hit awfully hard! Hope this is the last of that this winter.

 

[WhatInThe]

The big thing with the power grid is they had inadequate back-up and should have somekind of contigency for extreme temperatures hot or cold. The rolling blackouts in California over the last few years for extreme heat or wildfires should've put power companies and regulators on alert. Same for those emp attack or event warnings. Can't do massive utility upgrades at once but over time new codes, requirements etc begin to kick in. Same for roads, bridges etc alot of which is lack of repair not replacement.

This southern winter should considered a possibility about once or twice a decade. Not getting all the details of what failed yet not sure where immediate changes need to take place.

 

[Murrmurr]

The big thing with the power grid is they had inadequate back-up and should have somekind of contigency for extreme temperatures hot or cold. The rolling blackouts in California over the last few years for extreme heat or wildfires should've put power companies and regulators on alert. Same for those emf attack or event warnings. Can't do massive utility upgrades at once but over time new codes, requirements etc begin to kick in. Same for roads, bridges etc alot of which is lack of repair not replacement.

This southern winter should considered a possibility about once or twice a decade. Not getting all the details of what failed yet not sure where immediate changes need to take place.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is California's power(ful) provider. The massive company was found to be at fault and liable for the recent wildfires (of 2018 to 2020), including loss of life. Calif supreme court ordered them to pay out billions in lawsuits and PG&E immediately filed bankruptcy (leaving lay-people to ask where their immense profits go). So, no restitution. But they were also ordered to fix the problem and they say they are working on it. But I guess they can say anything they like.

 

[jerry old]

I agree with everything you say.
However, the govt produces no money, consequently-the only source of a govt has is taxes.ESPECIALLY COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
My taxes are outrageous, our Farm-to =-Market roads are dangerous (gaping holes...)
We have ignored needed repairs (as you point out) now were going to have to pay, pay, pay...

 

[Jeni]

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is California's power(ful) provider. The massive company was found to be at fault and liable for the recent wildfires (of 2018 to 2020), including loss of life. Calif supreme court ordered them to pay out billions in lawsuits and immediately filed bankruptcy (leaving lay-people to ask where their immense profits go). So, no restitution. But they were also ordered to fix the problem and they say they are working on it. But I guess they can say anything they like.

exactly ... power items in my area have gotten worse with power knocked out by overgrown trees or sick trees falling over used to be companies looked at all vegetation etc and were Proactive instead of REACTIVE........
property owners used to have to cut back branches etc now ...
nothing is done to prevent but boy they have their hands out for money to "clean up and repair"

 

[fuzzybuddy]

About 15 years ago, I was without power for 5 days ,in below "0" weather, because of a huge ice storm that took down millions of trees. I have a well, but without electricity, it's just a deep hole. So yeah, I kind of know how Texans feels. You have no idea to the extent electricity is part of your life, till it ain't there no more. And without juice, you don't have phones or the internet- and the internet controls EVERYTHING.- like banks, gas stations, stores. Yet, my problem was due to the amount of fallen trees over roads and power lines-not necessarily the cold and ice. Texas don't seem to have had a plan B. It's unrealistic to assume that it'll be 86 and sunny everyday, forever. You engineer your grid for things like lightening, earthquakes, and other catastrophes. They should be able to withstand cold, and be prepared for it.? Yeah, the cold did a number on Texas' infrastructure, but once one thing faltered ,there was nothing in reserve to take it's place. This isn't pizza delivery, it's people's lives at stake. I live in Pennsylvania, and it's hard to look at "all" our political accomplishments, as a template for the nation. But before the ice storm, our power would go off, whenever. You'd come home and every clock was flashing. I don't know what we did, but that's pretty much passed us. There hasn't been a power outage in years. And it gets damn cold.

BTW, just as an aside about how interconnected we are. During the ice storm, they hooked up a generator to a gas station. The pumps wouldn't work. They were linked up to report the amount sold to the corporate headquarters in NYC. That link to NYC was down, so the pumps' computer program wouldn't allow it to work, since it couldn't sent that data. It was a flaw in the programming. Nobody, here ,knew how to do a fix around.

 

[Murrmurr]

I agree with everything you say.
However, the govt produces no money, consequently-the only source of a govt has is taxes.ESPECIALLY COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
My taxes are outrageous, our Farm-to =-Market roads are dangerous (gaping holes...)
We have ignored needed repairs (as you point out) now were going to have to pay, pay, pay...

I suspect those tax dollars are not being spent wisely. States contract with favored companies that grossly overcharge for labor and materials; that's one problem that needs to be fixed. But the list goes on. Company CEOs are on it.

 

[Murrmurr]

About 15 years ago, I was without power for 5 days ,in below "0" weather, because of a huge ice storm that took down millions of trees. I have a well, but without electricity, it's just a deep hole. So yeah, I kind of know how Texans feels. You have no idea to the extent electricity is part of your life, till it ain't there no more. And without juice, you don't have phones or the internet- and the internet controls EVERYTHING.- like banks, gas stations, stores. Yet, my problem was due to the amount of fallen trees over roads and power lines-not necessarily the cold and ice. Texas don't seem to have had a plan B. It's unrealistic to assume that it'll be 86 and sunny everyday, forever. You engineer your grid for things like lightening, earthquakes, and other catastrophes. They should be able to withstand cold, and be prepared for it.? Yeah, the cold did a number on Texas' infrastructure, but once one thing faltered ,there was nothing in reserve to take it's place. I live in Pennsylvania, and it's hard to look at "all" our political accomplishments, as a template for the nation. But before the ice storm, our power would go off, whenever. You'd come home and every clock was flashing. I don't know what we did, but that's pretty much passed us. There hasn't been a power outage in years. And it gets damn cold.

I was working at a retail store when the power went out, so the cash register and ATM went down, and the kid I was working with said "We better lock up" because he didn't know that it's possible to do sales with cash and actually give correct change.

 

[Murrmurr]

@Jeni This kid watched in Awe while I poured coin rolls and divvied up various denominations of bills into a cash drawer I made out of a paper bag. He was like "You can DO that?" And I was like, hold my beer. lol!!

 

[Jeni]

@Jeni This kid watched in Awe while I poured coin rolls and divvied up various denominations of bills into a cash drawer I made out of a paper bag. He was like "You can DO that?" And I was like, hold my beer. lol!!

it is amazing that so many would be totally lost in that situation.....

 

[WhatInThe]

Talk about preparedness do people even keep a flashlight or few simple basic tools in their cars anymore? Decades ago it wasn't uncommon for one to keep a blanket in the car if it broke down in winter. Now everybody assumes help is cell phone call away-except when power is down everywhere.

 

[Happy Joe]

Why would anyone rely on utilities to provide something as essential as power and water, without a personal backup plan?
The camping filter will take care of even large viruses and a carbon filter will remove many noxious chemicals from water. There is a very large creek within walking distance.
Generators have been available for roughly a century, or more.
Portable heaters work both as a home heating backup and for camping...

Self reliance has been apart of my life for most of it... so far.
The Texas scenario boggles my mind!

I am impressed, though , whenever I encounter someone who knows the correct way to make change... a lost art, it seems.

Enjoy!

 

[Don M.]

exactly ... power items in my area have gotten worse with power knocked out by overgrown trees or sick trees falling over used to be companies looked at all vegetation etc and were Proactive instead of REACTIVE........


We're lucky in that our local power company keeps the trees trimmed so there are very few that could impact the power lines. They even go so far as to send out a tree crew to take down a dead tree(for free) if it could potentially fall into a power line. Every year, they send out a crew to trim the trees, and this past year they "mutilated" a bunch of cedar trees that line our roadway.....so, on my bucket list this coming Summer is a couple of days to finish taking down what's left....those cedar trees are a nuisance, anyhow. In the 18 years we've lived here, our worst power outage was 20 hours, about 12 years ago, when a dead tree hit the main line.....that's when they started their annual trimming. Luckily, when we moved to the boondocks, I bought a generator, and knock wood, it has seen minimal use...hope it continues that way.

 

[Jeni]

the power company here used to go out and trim but they did not know what they were doing and killed many trees including one on my property ........
power outages lately have lasted a week for some it is so aggravating when the last tree that knocked out a substation was on THEIR property

 

[Chet]

I have to say that our power company, PPL is pretty good in this part of PA. They have installed a switching system that re-routs power from one section to the section having a problem. Knock on wood.

PA also has a system where you can buy electricity from a number of suppliers introducing competition. PPL deals only in power distribution separate from suppliers.

 

[AnnieA]

All three sectors of our national grid are horribly dated and exposed to failure due to natural causes (extreme weather, solar flares), cyber attack or an EMP. There are strategic parts that if knocked out would cause a cascade and nationwide failure. Huge transformers that are too large for semis to carry that were put in place by rail car eons ago no longer have train tracks anywhere near them. There are no spares in waiting; production would take over a year and we don't have manufacturing ability to make them in the US anymore.

Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel is a sobering read.

 

[jerry old]

People posting 'the sky is falling' and it is
We have no attention span, as soon as warm weather arrives we will put it on a back burner.
Nova and other programs have been crying, 'the sky is falling, regrading our entire infrastructure over a decade

In that roads, bridges, pipelines are so easily made into pork barrel events, i wonder why the politicos have not taken a few baby steps

I can't even discuss Annie A's cyber attack alert-it's too darn scary.

Color me weary, pointed at scared

 

[fmdog44]

Let's not omit the dead people young and old due to freezing temperatures. The stories are sad and so unnecessary. If any of us Texans would have believed this would be this catastrophic we would have filled up our bath tubs. When is the last time you removed toilet contents with a scooper?

 

[Ruthanne]

Why would anyone rely on utilities to provide something as essential as power and water, without a personal backup plan?
The camping filter will take care of even large viruses and a carbon filter will remove many noxious chemicals from water. There is a very large creek within walking distance.
Generators have been available for roughly a century, or more.
Portable heaters work both as a home heating backup and for camping...

Self reliance has been apart of my life for most of it... so far.
The Texas scenario boggles my mind!

I am impressed, though , whenever I encounter someone who knows the correct way to make change... a lost art, it seems.

Enjoy!

People in apts. and with low incomes especially are at the mercy of the power companies unfortunately. There is no way for them to own a home and get a generator no matter how long they have been available. Try and get a landlord to get a generator. Impossible.

 

[Happy Joe]

People in apts. and with low incomes especially are at the mercy of the power companies unfortunately. There is no way for them to own a home and get a generator no matter how long they have been available. Try and get a landlord to get a generator. Impossible.

I purchased my first (admittedly small (tiny)) portable generator and made a start purchasing solar panels with a deep discharge battery while living in an apartment in the Chicago suburbs (Bensenville, Il.). Fortunately My apartment had south facing windows.

I stared this due to my camping hobby and because there was a local glass tempering operation that could/would knock out the power each time they started their ovens... The amusing part was that people would knock on my door wondering why I had lights (via battery backup) when the entire neighbor hood was dark. At this time I was using fluorescent backup lighting since LED lights were incredibly expensive.
Since that time the system has expanded and been refined, mostly as an adjunct to Jeep camping in remote primitive locals.

For me the need often/usually determines the solution...

Enjoy!

 

[WhatInThe]

People in apts. and with low incomes especially are at the mercy of the power companies unfortunately. There is no way for them to own a home and get a generator no matter how long they have been available. Try and get a landlord to get a generator. Impossible.

People in apartments are the most vunerable but even for a small building one generator wouldn't be enough. A large one might keep refrigerators going and a few lights but it wouldn't run heat or a/c. Best thing is a well insulated apartment ie windows and lots of windows in a warm environment so if ac goes they have ventilation.

And even if a landlord bought each apartment a small gas generator they need maintenance, fuel and would be lucky to get 12 hours if one runs a fridge or lights only.

 

[Happy Joe]

Let's not omit the dead people young and old due to freezing temperatures. The stories are sad and so unnecessary. If any of us Texans would have believed this would be this catastrophic we would have filled up our bath tubs. When is the last time you removed toilet contents with a scooper?

I have never let myself get into that situation; I did have to have my sewer line replaced though (took 2 weeks from failure to completion).

During that time I put (double) plastic grocery bags n to a five gallon bucket to receive the solids, Not all that comfortable but not terrible after I cut a hole in the lid to get away from the narrow bucket rim. (double knotting the bags helps keep the smell down: replace bags immediately after each use). since then I have found out that you can actually get toilet seats to fit a five gallon bucket and some folks just slit a pool noodle or use pipe insulation as a cushion.

For weekend camping I use a porta pottie.

Enjoy!

 

[Happy Joe]

People in apartments are the most vunerable but even for a small building one generator wouldn't be enough. A large one might keep refrigerators going and a few lights but it wouldn't run heat or a/c. Best thing is a well insulated apartment ie windows and lots of windows in a warm environment so if ac goes they have ventilation.

And even if a landlord bought each apartment a small gas generator they need maintenance, fuel and would be lucky to get 12 hours if one runs a fridge or lights only.

I agree about the vulnerability but people have a choice whether to become a victim or not...

Why would any one depend on someone else to buy a generator for them?... Not gonna happen, IMO.

My current long term camping/short term lighting power setup is a 35 amp hour (mobility) battery, a couple of inexpensive solar panels and, 350 lumen LED bulb (the same bulbs that I use in the living room table lamps; power fails grab the battery ith inverter and plug in a table lamp, the switch it on) and a very small inverter. I believe it cost less than $200; but it is only good for lights, tunes & recharging the phone etc .
cooking is done on one of several camping stoves. Tent heating is done((rarely) by one of several propane heaters, ...used to camp in the snow at around 9,000 feet without using a heater. The key to small solar systems is limiting power consumption. Note; the battery can also be recharged from a vehicle.

.

If I bring the portable fridge camping I also have to bring a much larger battery with smart charger and a small generator or rather large, bulky solar panels. I have thought about bringing a microwave but the power requirements are excessive.

Enjoy!