It’s So Effing Cold

[once_upon]

The coldest arenas i remember being in were Atlanta and St. Louis.

St. Paul was frigid - but I stayed the first night at my sister's where they kept their house at 58, I dont think I warmed up all week.

Cleveland was also bitterly cold.

 

[cygnus]

My Siberian Husky, Rani, is very happy.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Found this article about the Mayor of Colorado City in Texas. He posted on FB about people complaining about being cold.

Texas mayor says government and utility services owe residents ‘nothing’ as tens of thousands left without power and water

Local leader blames ‘socialist’ government and people’s upbringing for their condition

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Susan1]

< Changed my profile picture to my favorite thing. Such a good girl. I think I hit too much ice (snow then sleet then snow - 5+ inches) when I started out yesterday and the thing you change the direction the snow blows out from wouldn't move, so I had to blow it forward, and back in my face. After I was done and got her toweled off and brushed and sitting in the sun, whatever was in there melted and fell out, and it moved again.

It's 5* now. More snow tomorrow. Above freezing Sunday.

 

[Cachoo]

Found this article about the Mayor of Colorado City in Texas. He posted on FB about people complaining about being cold.

Texas mayor says government and utility services owe residents ‘nothing’ as tens of thousands left without power and water

Local leader blames ‘socialist’ government and people’s upbringing for their condition

www.independent.co.uk

AAAANNNDDD He (and his wife) are now both out of a job. He has resigned and apparently she argued at work trying to defend him and either resigned or was laid off. He is now saying it was taken out of context.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktxs.c...yor-resigns-after-controversial-facebook-post

 

[taf2002]

taf, I just have to ask. Is Swepco the power company that provides you electricity? I sure hope not!

No, I think we have Oncor. I still have full electricity but my neighbors across the street don't. What's really taunting them is the street lamps are still on.

 

[once_upon]

I believe Texas is its own power grid. Whereas the rest of the US is divided into two major power grids. Whether or not that is part of the Texas power outage issues, I dont know.

They paused the rolling blackouts yesterday, we may see more this morning. Apparently the power companies are texting/ phoning people when they might be affected

 

[BittyBug]

I believe Texas is its own power grid. Whereas the rest of the US is divided into two major power grids. Whether or not that is part of the Texas power outage issues, I dont know.

It's not the primary cause but it's a contributing factor. From what I've read, TX didn't have any contingency plan that anticipated a surge in demand due to cold weather, so they were left flat-footed. And because they are their own grid, they couldn't "borrow" from other states.

 

[alexikeguchi]

AAAANNNDDD He (and his wife) are now both out of a job. He has resigned and apparently she argued at work trying to defend him and either resigned or was laid off. He is now saying it was taken out of context.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktxs.c...yor-resigns-after-controversial-facebook-post

I mean, why on earth would he even want to be mayor of a town if he doesn't believe that government should serve any purpose whatsoever? Talk about socialism, he is the one doing nothing while drawing a government salary. But then maybe it's only socialism if people who don't look like him or vote like him benefit.

 

[Judy]

In all my almost 50 years, the coldest place I have EVER experienced in the US was Cleveland. In fact it was Cleveland Nationals in 2000, and I'd hail a cab from my hotel to the sports center which was only like four blocks away, but I'd tell the driver to drive me around for ten minutes until I warmed enough to get out and be prepared for the cold arena! Was that winter exceptionally cold for Cleveland, Tony? I've been to Chicago many times in January and there was never that bone chilling, instant-freezing feeling. I grew up on the east coast and would ride my bike to school in -10 weather and think nothing of it. But now being in Houston for 30+ years I am much more sensitive to freezing temps like you are.

I find that the damp, bone chilling cold is one of the worst.

AAAANNNDDD He (and his wife) are now both out of a job. He has resigned and apparently she argued at work trying to defend him and either resigned or was laid off. He is now saying it was taken out of context.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktxs.c...yor-resigns-after-controversial-facebook-post

That is so bizarre. Is he insane?

 

[Aceon6]

That is so bizarre. Is he insane?

Part of the 30%. I wouldn’t expect anything different.

 

[Cachoo]

It's not the primary cause but it's a contributing factor. From what I've read, TX didn't have any contingency plan that anticipated a surge in demand due to cold weather, so they were left flat-footed. And because they are their own grid, they couldn't "borrow" from other states.

Well for those in the state who advocate secession this is a taste of what it might be like if you insist on going your own way.

 

[Erin]

I felt betrayed by the cold snap in Boston for Worlds 2016. It’s rarely that cold. I at least had access to a -40 rated LL Bean coat, but many FSUers were scouting for something, anything, warm at year end sales. Unfortunately, most stores had already switched to spring.

Aside from maybe a day or two, I remember the weather being great in Boston 2016. I was staying with a friend in Cambridge and I know we walked to and from the arena a few times, which was about a 40 minute walk, which we wouldn’t have done if it was very cold. And there was one day we abandoned practices to tour around Boston and had a great day for it.

 

[skategal]

Aside from maybe a day or two, I remember the weather being great in Boston 2016. I was staying with a friend in Cambridge and I know we walked to and from the arena a few times, which was about a 40 minute walk, which we wouldn’t have done if it was very cold. And there was one day we abandoned practices to tour around Boston and had a great day for it.

Yes I remember one day it was super warm there. I was going around in only a sweater.

Where we sat in the arena was cold though.

 

[Rukia]

I'm currently one of the Texans without power. Well, we get an hour every 3-4 hours or so right now, which is way better than it was a couple days ago. We have gas stove and water heater, so we are surviving better than others. Have loaned batteries and heated up water for one neighbor and given wood to burn to the other. I miss having electricity all day every day though.

 

[Susan1]

Talking about too cold to watch skating. How about too cold to skate? We went to our adult club skate on a Tuesday night when it was 1* above zero. People coming in were taking their skate bags into the restrooms to put them in front of the hand dryers. (I never left my skates in the trunk in between going to the rink.) It was so cold, you couldn't stand still. The ice was too hard to skate on. Even the heated spectator area was cold. It's the only time everybody gave up and went home before our session was over. And then we had to get in cold cars. I didn't think I was ever going to get warm when I got home.

 

[Judy]

Part of the 30%. I wouldn’t expect anything different.

He should be terminated as a fake human being.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I mean, why on earth would he even want to be mayor of a town if he doesn't believe that government should serve any purpose whatsoever? Talk about socialism, he is the one doing nothing while drawing a government salary. But then maybe it's only socialism if people who don't look like him or vote like him benefit.

Is his last name Swanson and does he have a brother in Pawnee, IN?

 

[Cupid]

My furnace has not turned off at all. Constantly running. I keep thermostat at 67 when I leave for work, up to 71 when I get home.

 

[Cachoo]

So I follow a guy on Instagram who does not mince words and he is not in one political camp or the other: He wants what is true and he lives in Austin. After the mess in Texas he had this message:

"I'm seeing lots of conservatives, including the same old s***bag politicians, blame wind turbine failure for this s***show in Texas. Weird, as ERCOT officials have state thermal generation suffered "significantly more lost wattage."

More, a federal warning from ten years ago to winterize the energy grid along with crony capitalism leading the promised additional energy infrastructure didn't happen...and some politicians and their friends grew rich.

But keep up with your right v left, oil/gas vs wind/solar bull****. It's super accurate and helpful, you f***ing muppets.

Yikes!

 

[Amy L]

We were without power for about 22 hours yesterday. The electricity came back on at 10pm then shut off again at 2am. It turned back on at 7am and so far it's still hanging on. Finally was able to take a hot shower!!! We desperately need to do laundry but I'm afraid of everything shutting off and me being stuck with a bunch of soggy clothes so I may just wait until it gets warmer this weekend.

We are also under a boil water notice. How are people without electricity supposed to manage that?

 

[skatingguy]

We were without power for about 22 hours yesterday. The electricity came back on at 10pm then shut off again at 2am. It turned back on at 7am and so far it's still hanging on. Finally was able to take a hot shower!!! We desperately need to do laundry but I'm afraid of everything shutting off and me being stuck with a bunch of soggy clothes so I may just wait until it gets warmer this weekend.

We are also under a boil water notice. How are people without electricity supposed to manage that?

Do you have a BBQ or camp stove?

 

[taf2002]

The people across the street from me still don't have service. One neighbor came over & borrowed our tool for the water valve at the curb so he could shut off his water & try to save his pipes. I can't explain why my side of the street has full service with not even brown-outs.

 

[Amy L]

Do you have a BBQ or camp stove?

We have a BBQ but it's getting low on propane. There should at least be enough to make dinner tonight but not sure about after that. There are no full propane tanks available anywhere so when it's done it's done.

The power is out again as of 5pm. Since they're doing rolling blackouts I guess I won't have electricity again until sometime tomorrow. At least it's above freezing now so it's a bit easier to handle.

 

[Vash01]

I lived in Texas for 10 years but never imagined the kind of weather they are having and the inability of the state to cope with it. I have seen seasonal snowfalls (west Texas), and ice storms, single digit temperatures, and occasional snow falls in Dallas. We never had a problem in the cold or hot times of the year. What is happening is so unusual. Climate change has been around fir a while but this seems like a serious warming. Being isolated had worked fir Texas fir years but they may not have a choice but to join the national grid. This could happen again. I am also worried about their summers now.

Here is a very good article about Texas’s energy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/02/17/texas-power-winter-storm/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0KuZPVEDDGsRc5g7VRJpXqeYnQ_MPxhlVnxiGomZkdC7UmzBA8AMfFO5w

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I lived in Texas for 10 years but never imagined the kind of weather they are having and the inability of the state to cope with it. I have seen seasonal snowfalls (west Texas), and ice storms, single digit temperatures, and occasional snow falls in Dallas. We never had a problem in the cold or hot times of the year. What is happening is so unusual. Climate change has been around fir a while but this seems like a serious warming. Being isolated had worked fir Texas fir years but they may not have a choice but to join the national grid. This could happen again. I am also worried about their summers now.

Here is a very good article about Texas’s energy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/02/17/texas-power-winter-storm/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0KuZPVEDDGsRc5g7VRJpXqeYnQ_MPxhlVnxiGomZkdC7UmzBA8AMfFO5w

Then I would hate to think of what a really bad cold period might be like.

 

[hanca]

My new best friend

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MaxKare-Electric-Shoulder-Fast-Heating-Temperature/dp/B07RF6RH1P/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_13?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W3TXP74BH6AWMNSQJ5QC

 

[Vash01]

Then I would hate to think of what a really bad cold period might be like.

It could get worse. The summers could get worse too if the AC does not work.

 

[Aussie Willy]

This

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[Dobre]

This seems to be an informative take on what is happening in Texas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvredgJPgi8&t=262s

That the state can get through this without it becoming a huge humanitarian crises. The combination of no heat & no water makes for really hazardous health conditions. In addition to broken pipes (and non-functioning gas pumps?) it seems that Austin's water treatment plant isn't working due to the power outage so water is supposed to be boiled. Ugh.

(For anyone worried about pipes freezing, leave your faucets dripping in freezing temperatures, especially overnight. I also have to shut down the water main on one particular outside faucet every winter, remove the faucet, seal off the pipe, put a lid over the sealed pipe, and pack that particular pipe with insulation. Lesson learned the hard way when my pipes broke the first winter that I lived in this house).

Basically, it sounds like the state needs to winterize its energy production sources. (And it might want to join another grid so that it can share power). One step at a time, though. Stay safe, everyone.