To be clear & fair, we definitely don't have good infrastructure for winter storms west of the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest either. (The last update I read said that power had been restored to somewhat more than half of the homes that lost it).
Climate-related weather events aren't "predictable." I believe this weather is like a once-in-forty-years event in Texas?
We've had deeper, longer-lasting snow in my part of the Pacific Northwest three out of the last 6 years than all the years since I was a little kid. And we have the infrastructure for it. West of the mountains, they aren't used to snow. They don't have the snowplows for it. They recommend against purchasing snow tires to preserve the roads. When it does snow in the Valley or Seattle, they usually just get an inch or so, close up shop, and then go back to work a day later. But when they do get a serious snow event--which has happened now 3 out of the past 6 years--they don't get powder. They get wet heavy snow & ice that takes down trees. I don't know how you avoid power outages when you have trees lying on the lines. I think the best you can do is staff road crews.
Anyway, I am glad the people in Texas have federal support and don't have to worry that someone will hold back emergency relief. As it is, no one usually has to worry about a giant health crises endangering folks in shelters. So states--in general--are facing an extraordinary challenge here. Not a predictable one.
Climate-related weather events aren't "predictable." I believe this weather is like a once-in-forty-years event in Texas?
We've had deeper, longer-lasting snow in my part of the Pacific Northwest three out of the last 6 years than all the years since I was a little kid. And we have the infrastructure for it. West of the mountains, they aren't used to snow. They don't have the snowplows for it. They recommend against purchasing snow tires to preserve the roads. When it does snow in the Valley or Seattle, they usually just get an inch or so, close up shop, and then go back to work a day later. But when they do get a serious snow event--which has happened now 3 out of the past 6 years--they don't get powder. They get wet heavy snow & ice that takes down trees. I don't know how you avoid power outages when you have trees lying on the lines. I think the best you can do is staff road crews.
Anyway, I am glad the people in Texas have federal support and don't have to worry that someone will hold back emergency relief. As it is, no one usually has to worry about a giant health crises endangering folks in shelters. So states--in general--are facing an extraordinary challenge here. Not a predictable one.
