# How prepared is Texas collectively and individually for this kind of blizzard scenario **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074 "2021-02-17T01:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/21 "2021-02-17T16:54:30Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > But the grid itself was overwhelmed Sure, I understand that. But because Texas has its own grid cut off from the rest of North America (except I think they can buy from Mexico, or have done so in the past) they can’t call on the resources of the rest of the continent to help them out. Most of the rest of the US is connected to one of two major North American grids that even extend into Canada. It’s a lot harder to overwhelm a larger grid. It’s not 100% guaranteed - almost nothing is - but the grid in Texas being isolated like that was a conscious and deliberate decision on the part of the people running Texas. In addition, those same people also set regulatory standards in Texas so if those standards turned out to be inadequate that’s who should be looked at. > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > ETA Not really disagreeing with your post, just pointing out that a big part of the failure of the Texas system is an unwillingness to share with other systems, and Louisiana is also suffering a little from that. ^ Yep, what they said. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/22 "2021-02-17T16:54:33Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Likewise, people with camping gear and experience are going to have an advantage. I have a “hobo stove” that can burn almost anything burnable and boil a cup or two of water - it’s not very sophisticated but I also have some food that only needs boiling water to make a meal that will keep me going and help keep me warm. > > It’s not just having material items, there’s a knowledge/culture component at work, too. A few years ago I lived three weeks in a location without electricity, gas, or running water (no, not entirely by choice). There was one night I boarded my three parrots at the vet because I can’t get them to wear sweaters, but I camped out at home. It wasn’t fun, but it was tolerable because I had the gear and the knowledge to make it work. Not everyone has both components. Yes, for example if you are in the SCA (as one who camps overnite) you will be pretty prepared. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/23 "2021-02-17T16:58:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As a general matter, a decorative fireplace removes heat from a house, not adds heat. People keep saying that, and as proof, everyone before the invention of the Franklin stove froze to death in the fireplace warmed homes. 😜 What they mean is that the rest of the house, the rooms with no fireplaces, will get colder. ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/24 "2021-02-17T17:01:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > People keep saying that, and as proof, everyone before the invention of the Franklin stove froze to death in the fireplace warmed homes. 😜 > > What they mean is that the rest of the house, the rooms with no fireplaces, will get colder. Yep. Two story house here. Thermostat is downstairs. When gas log is going, living area definitely heats up. Upstairs gets cooler because the thermostat tells central heat to stop. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/25 "2021-02-17T17:02:25Z")
Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/26 "2021-02-17T17:29:06Z")
Sure is nice to hear all these proud, independent Texans complaining that the government didn’t do enough to protect them, and wishing for more regulations in the form of energy policy and building codes! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/27 "2021-02-17T17:59:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > What I never understood was lax building codes necessitating panicky warnings from officialdom in the event of cold weather that pipes were in jeopardy of freezing and bursting. In a climate like Houston’s there are on average several nights a year when temps can be expected to go below 32F. Why not plan for it? In the case of older homes, retrofit. Government programs to provide insulation to homes in poorer neighborhoods would prevent a lot of trouble too. There is a big difference between dipping into the 20s for a few hours, and staying below freezing for a few days, and spending the better part of a week in the teens and lower–potentially with no working furnace in the house. Our houses are designed to handle relatively brief freezes. And it’s not the ice/snow that’s new here: we get this, we know how to deal with this. But we don’t get this cold, and it doesn’t stay this cold this long. That’s what is overwhelming the systems–two systems, really, as natural gas is also struggling to meet demand. > [@SwissMan](#): > > As a lifelong DFW resident, winters here can get cold, though what we are seeing at present is a once in a generation event. It’s been nearly 40 years since we last saw a cold outbreak this bad. This quote + your username almost doxxes you! I do love Old East Dallas. To the OP: we are not really prepared. Not for this level of cold. I own a heavy hoodie, but not a proper coat: my son’s best coat is basically a puffer, with a little more insulation. No one I know owns snow pants. Another big lack is warm boots with good soles. It’s just not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/28 "2021-02-17T18:09:01Z")
I guess I should note that I am in my early 30s; I wasn’t around for the December 1983 cold snap (my folks, who are from Illinois/Wisconsin, didn’t move here until the following year). This is the worst one I’ve ever experienced personally. I’m actually in Irving myself, and grew up in Euless over in Tarrant County; the username reflects my heritage on my dad’s side. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/29 "2021-02-17T18:11:09Z")
Ah. I thought you lived on Swiss Avenue, which is the sort of street people identify with. But that’s really a Dallas-Dallas thing, not a DFW thing. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/30 "2021-02-17T18:33:53Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > > [@Jackmannii](#): > > > > What I never understood was lax building codes necessitating panicky warnings from officialdom in the event of cold weather that pipes were in jeopardy of freezing and bursting. In a climate like Houston’s there are on average several nights a year when temps can be expected to go below 32F. Why not plan for it? In the case of older homes, retrofit. Government programs to provide insulation to homes in poorer neighborhoods would prevent a lot of trouble too. > > There is a big difference between dipping into the 20s for a few hours, and staying below freezing for a few days, and spending the better part of a week in the teens and lower–potentially with no working furnace in the house. Our houses are designed to handle relatively brief freezes. Probably true in north/north central Texas. But in the Houston area, there are dire warnings issued about pipes freezing/bursting _every time the thermometer is forecast to drop to 32F or below_. That happens commonly enough that you’d expect something to be done about it other than running around applying makeshift remedies and then forgetting about it until the next freeze panic. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/31 "2021-02-17T18:36:11Z")
We have those warnings up here in DFW, but I’ve never heard of anyone’s pipes actually busting unless it gets like it is now: deep, deep freeze for a couple days. I think people just enjoy having something to “do”, ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/32 "2021-02-17T18:39:44Z")
Living near the coast can be bone-chilling cold and _damp._ And the houses built in Southern California are not – because they don’t have to be – insulated the way houses in the Yukon (or Minneapolis or Vermont or Idaho) are. So 40\* in Orange County can be _cold_ inside, even with the furnace keeping you at 72\*F. The houses can be downright drafty, too – particularly old housing stock. I have SoCal friends with FPs that love them and use them all the time throughout the winter. [former San Diegan with friends and family still in SD, OC, LA, and beyond] A quick aside … OC relative visited us in the Rockies in November. We had a bad snowstorm coming through and it occurred to me that the SoCal car she drove here to visit us might not have windshield washer solvent designed to protect in subzero conditions. So, for $20, my preferred shop drained and changed it out, assuring me that what they took out of there would have frozen, causing $ignificant damage to her car. You can’t think of everything, but the people who didn’t winterize the wind turbines, for example, probably should have thought of that. You hit the Internet or you make a few phone calls, and then you implement. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/33 "2021-02-17T18:41:43Z")
I used to live on Worth St very nearby. Quite the charming old neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/34 "2021-02-17T19:06:50Z")
Here’s an example of the stories that run in the Houston news media when cold weather arrives, even when it’s only a matter of temps dipping down to 28F or so for six hours (something that happens virtually every winter): > **[How to protect your pipes during freezes](https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/protecting-pipes-prevents-problems-from-popping-up-during-cold-snap/285-05bf45b1-d7ff-46a8-ade1-bd7cef89a862)** > > Protecting pipes prevents problems from popping up during cold snap My question was why homes in SE Texas are not properly insulated against these types of common minor cold snaps. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/35 "2021-02-17T19:12:36Z")
The “don’t hamper industry with regulation” crowd has been winning for long enough that insulation isn’t required and it’s cheaper to build without insulating so… profit, basically. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/36 "2021-02-17T19:14:16Z")
I had never heard of homes losing natural gas supplies. I’ve experienced at least 25 ice storms and heavy snow through out my lifetime. We have lost power many times. Our backup heat was gas space heaters. Today we have a natural gas generator that runs our central gas fired heat. I can’t imagine losing natural gas. That would be horrific. The people in Texas are in big trouble. Unless they have a full tank of propane in their yard. It’s more expensive but at least those homes are warm. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/37 "2021-02-17T19:18:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had never heard of homes losing natural gas supplies. My former residence lost its gas line - but that was due to road construction mishap that actually severed the line supplying the neighborhood. It’s not a fun thing to have happen, even without fire or explosions. As for why it’s happening in Texas… I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/38 "2021-02-17T19:22:30Z")
My wife and I are thinking about getting a pellet stove for emergency heat. We thought our whole house generator would be enough. If we can’t depend on Natural gas… A alternate fuel source becomes necessary. We’ll wait and buy one next summer. When prices are lower. I have friends that use pellet stoves full time and they work well. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/39 "2021-02-17T20:53:19Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also they don’t really have snow plows or salt trucks down there correct? That is definitely correct in the Austin area. I’ve lived here for over a decade and I can count the number of times the snow has actually stuck on one hand. One of those times was in January of 2021. The road in front of my apartment isn’t a major street but it’s a fairly busy connector. The street would have been cleared pretty early if we lived in a place with regular winter weather, but we don’t have anything in place for that. A lot of cars were struggling through the snow and even some trucks were getting stuck. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > What about the average Texan individual? They may have a fireplace, but do they have cold weather gear? if the average temp drops to maybe 40F at the worst in a given year, do they have winter clothes for sub zero temperature (thick coats, snow pants, gloves and hats)? Does the average Texan have a snow shovel or any way to provide heating that is not electric? I grew up in NJ and went to school in Pittsburgh, so I have cold weather gear but I’m far from the Texas norm. Most of the time my gear sits in my trunk in the back of my closet unless I’m traveling back East for the holidays or when I used to travel somewhere cold for work. I have also amassed a nice collection of blankets and comforters but I’m not sure if I would have this many if I had not lived alone before moving down here. When I worked in bars we would go to this one place after shifts to unwind with a cocktail on the patio. In the winter, the only people who had gloves were all from places with cold winters. People who ski or snowboard may have some gear, but most folks don’t have coats that are better than a heavy hoodie. Even though I’m reasonably prepared clothing-wise, I still don’t have anything to clear walkways or a driveway. I was out on the balcony on Monday watching people try to clear snow with all sorts of random stuff (brooms, squeegees, garden tools, etc). I started to chuckle a little before realizing that I would absolutely be in the same boat. The only reason I even have a scraper is because it’s NY Giants themed and I threw it in the bottom of a storage bin when I moved down here 😁 I lived in two houses and few apartments before I settled into my current place and none of them have had fireplaces. All of my friends with newer (post-90s) places do have fireplaces and pretty much everyone I know living outside of the city has a fireplace. For comparison, the only place I lived back East without a fireplace was a dorm. Grills are pretty common and it has definitely come in handy for some folks. I have a portable tailgating grill that is great for apartment living because it breaks down to a nice size. People who camp also tend to have additional gear for these situations. I have power banks for travel and solar chargers that I use when camping, but I haven’t had a generator since I moved to Texas. I know that some folks who are closer to the Gulf are more prepared to go without power because of regular storms, but we rarely see those storms in central Texas. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074/40 "2021-02-17T21:25:18Z")
@Jackmannii is absolutely right- you’d think a mild freeze was some sort of apocalyptic event down there by the way that the news beats the drum and there are signs everywhere, etc… Here I might occasionally see a sign at the entrance to a subdivision or by an apartment complex, but for the most part, there’s no real emphasis of freezing temps unless the temperature is going to be under about 25, or the highs are going to be below freezing for a long time (like now). I don’t know if there are different building codes and standards; pipe busting just isn’t a huge issue here, while it is a big deal down there, at least according to the news and anecdotally. People’s pipes run through their attics and stuff down there, which I understand isn’t so common here because it freezes. > [@Frosted\_Glass](#): > > I know that some folks who are closer to the Gulf are more prepared to go without power because of regular storms, but we rarely see those storms in central Texas. My mother was sort of unconcerned; she has the whole panoply of her hurricane preparedness stuff to draw on- food, water, batteries, etc… As long as she has heat, she’s good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-prepared-is-texas-collectively-and-individually-for-this-kind-of-blizzard-scenario/933074.md?page=3)