Millions of Texans wereleft without power in plummeting temperaturesas an unprecedented winter storm wreaked havoc on the Lone Star State earlier this week.
At least 37 people across the country have died in the storm and its aftermath, a majority of them in Texas, according toNBC News, as residents struggle to survive without power and water.
While cold weather in Texas isn’t unheard of, the extreme temperatures this week overwhelmed systems unequipped for such weather, prompting criticism and calls for change as to how the state and its power operate.
Here, PEOPLE unpacks some of the burning questions behind the panic gripping Texas.
Why Are Other Areas Better at Handling Cold Weather?
In places like the Northeast, cold weather is a part of life, and houses, hospitals and other facilities are built with the knowledge that come winter, temperatures are going to dip below 32 degrees.
Because of that, most pipes are wrapped in material that’ll help prevent them from freezing, Epic Plumbing manager April Maly told theHouston Chronicle. Home insulation also typically helps shield the pipes from bursting, which can happen as the water inside freezes and expands, according toUSA Today.
That’s not the case in Texas.
“Houston wasn’t prepared for this,” Erika Chew, office manager of Houston Plumbers, told theChronicle. “[Freezing pipes] don’t ever happen here.”
In Austin, too, the local plumbing systems simply aren’t designed for such extreme temperatures, Brad Casebier, CEO of Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning, told NBC affiliateKXAN.
A broken water line floods a church in Richardson, Texas.Tony Gutierrez/AP/Shutterstock
“The farther south you go, the more likely a home may have pipes that are not insulated,“USA Todayreported.
Maly told theChroniclethat little can be done to fix the pipe problem until the weather warms up, and that even fixing burst PVC pipes is an issue at the moment because they require a certain type of glue, for which it’s too cold to dry.
Since frozen pipes are a rarity in Texas, people are also largely unaware of the things you need to do to try and prevent them, like turning all water faucets on just enough to allow a continuous drop, and keeping cabinet doors under sinks open to allow any warm air in the room to reach the pipes, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. However, many Texas cities are urging residents to conserve water as shortages persist, or boil it for their safety,The Dallas Morning Newsreported.
Why Are Gas Pipes, and Not Wind Turbines, to Blame?
Texas is unique in that it’s the only U.S. state to run on its own separate power grid — and that grid controls about 90 percent of the state’s power for 26 million customers, according to theAustin American-Statesman.
While the rest of the country operates on two different power grids — one for the east and one for the west —a nonprofit called the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) runs nearly all of Texas' electrical grids.
Though Republican leaders such as Rep. Dan Crenshawblamedfrozen wind turbines for Texas' blackouts, ERCOT said that actually, a majority of its megawatt outages came from gas, coal and nuclear supply sources, according to theAssociated Press.
People wait to fill up propane tanks in Houston.Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty
Arepresentative for ERCOT saidthat of the 45,000 megawatts that were out, about 30,000 were from gas, coal and nuclear energy, while just 16,000 came from wind and solar energy, stats that squash claims wind turbines should hold the brunt of the blame.
ERCOT President Bill Magness said the company was forcing controlled outages to prevent even further blackout, something that happens when power demand overwhelms supply, theAmerican-Statesmanreported.
The history of ERCOT began in the 1930s with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Federal Power Act, which put the Federal Power Commission in charge of regulating interstate electricity sales, according to the American-Statesman.
Though ERCOT official Dan Woodfin told the AP that plants were upgraded after 2011, ERCOT has faced immense criticism for failing to prepare for extreme weather like what’s being seen this week.
A furniture store becomes a shelter in Houston.David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock
“This whole situation is beyond infuriating. Completely unacceptable,” state Rep. Jeff Leachposted on FacebookTuesday. “I am making it my personal mission to find those responsible for this and hold them to account. You deserve nothing less. You deserve better.”
Gov. Greg Abbott has said that he will prioritize an ERCOT reform, theTexas Tribunereported. There have also been calls for investigation into ERCOT’s practices, and calls for officials to resign.
Why Are Texans Being Told to Boil Their Water?
Though earlier advice encouraged residents to run their taps to keep pipes from freezing, the constant flow has now, in part, led to a severe water shortage.
“Water pressure is very low. Please do not run water to keep pipes from bursting,” Houston Mayor Sylvester TurnertweetedWednesday. “Turn off water if pipes have burst. Please contact us if you don’t know how to turn off water. Be conservative on water usage today. It is needed for hospitals and fires.”
Some people across the state have no water at all, while many others have low water pressure, mainly due to burst pipes, a lack of generators and frozen fire hydrants,CNNreported.
Boil water notices are public health advisories warning people that their drinking water may be contaminated, so they should use bottled water or boil their tap water before drinking it or using it to brush their teeth.
“A lot of people are losing water in my area and were told that they would be shutting [the] water off for the whole city with no idea when it would be back, so we filled up pitchers and tubs,” San Antonio resident Jordan Orta told CNN. “I went to H-E-B yesterday and there was no water left, so if we lose water, it’s all we got until who knows when.”
The issue is alsoaffecting hospitals around the state, some of which have been forced to evacuate patients. Others have even reportedly asked employees not to flush the toilet, and to use bags to remove feces.
What Should I Do if I Live in Texas?
If you’re able, keep your thermostats below 68 degrees, unplug your lights and appliances, and don’t use big appliances like ovens or washing machines.
To keep warm, make sure you’re wearing at least three insulating layers, plus an outer layer to keep out the wind, according to the Houston Office of Emergency Management.
To seek further help, the state has alsoset up warming centers,and the National Guard has been deployed to conduct welfare checks and help people find local warming stations. For help finding one, call 2-1-1.
source: people.com
