The ‘go it alone’ state has had things drop in its lap….
The political idealism has hit the reality of cold weather…..
(Biden has sent FEMA to help out)
The state’s power grid is NOT attached to the rest of the countries….
The state gets cold weather….
But NOT like they have coming out of now….
Things are NOT good down there….
A crushing winter storm was the last thing that food banks in Texas needed.
The numbers of needy families had been rising because of the pandemic, and when the storm hit this week things only got worse.
Now, food banks are facing a drop in supplies from grocery stores, their main source of donated food. Transportation problems are cutting off distribution, and the demand for certain types of food, such as those that are ready to eat, has increased to meet the needs of people who have limited electricity and water.
“It feels like the pandemic all over again,” said Celia Cole, the chief executive officer of Feeding Texas, the state’s largest network with 21 food banks that reach all 254 counties….
In 1989, punishing cold weather that caused power failures across the state led to a federal study that spelled out how to avoid such a disaster in the future, by winterizing equipment the way more northern power companies do.
In 2011, after Arctic weather caused a series of rolling blackouts, the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC) produced another report that warned Texas power companies and regulators again that they had to winterize their equipment. “The single largest problem during the cold weather event was the freezing of instrumentation and equipment,” it said.
That report, like the earlier one, was largely ignored.
“I am extremely frustrated that 10 years later our electric grid remains so ill-equipped for these weather events,” said the state comptroller, Glenn Hegar (R), who as a state legislator sponsored a bill a decade ago to prod the electric companies into preparing for winter. The bill passed but had little effect.
“We must address why, after 10 years have passed, are we in a worse position today than in 2011.”
The regulatory recriminations are coming after cold and snow that blew in over the weekend led to a much sharper spike in demand than the state’s electricity dispatching agency had anticipated, and at the same time the cold caused the equipment needed to run power generators to freeze up. One power plant after another went offline, and utilities had to “shed load,” or cut off customers, to keep the whole system from crashing….
Some are now moving patients to other facilities for their safety — if they can find anywhere with the ability to take them amid an ongoing pandemic and power emergency.
“No one hospital currently has the capacity to accept transport of a large number of patients,” David Huffstutler, CEO of St. David’s HealthCare, told The Washington Post in a statement early Thursday….
top image…Credit…Mark Felix for The New York Times
bottom image…Ambulances are lined up to transport patients from St. David’s South Austin Medical Center to other area hospitals on Wednesday. The building began losing heat due to low water pressure. (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman/AP)
jamesb says
So much for ur cavalier remark about snow and cold in Texas CG….
jamesb says
Texas Was Very Close to Catastrophic Blackouts
Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, the Texas Tribune reports.
My Name Is Jack says
Obviously these problems have been building for awhile .
However, those in office now may pay a price because it’s happened on their watch.
Scott P says
So much for all the foolishness that privatization and deregulation of utilities leads to better service.
jamesb says
Texas politicans keep fucking their citizens with assine talk about succession and going on their own ….
The one Mayor had to quit for telling people to stop complaining …..
The state seems to be backwards ….
I’m sure they won’t do like the other 49 states and band together for energy….
Abbott start out about the Democrats and conservation ….
Then has to do a U-Turn today…..
BACKWARDS….
Zreebs says
Every Texas statewide elected official is a Republican, and the GOP also controls both houses in the state.
Scott P says
But according to Republicans none of those Republicans are to blame and the Green New Deal–which exists only as a proposal–is.
Party of personal responsibility my ass!
My Name Is Jack says
And it’s why “conservatism” is bunk.
They have no real beliefs,except “get them libruls.”
Here is the perfect example.
The Green Deal Deal as you point out is nothing but a proposal associated with liberals.Yet somehow this idea is to blame for the mess in Texas.Its all they’ve got .
The Republican Party 2021.
Scott P says
Conservatism is as dead as that doper Rush Limbaugh
Scott P says
I laughed the other night when CG stated that Limbaugh didn’t traffic in grievance like Trump did and that he was all about the promise of America.
This morning I was reminded of when Rush stated that if women are getting birth control paid for by their health insurance then men should be allowed to watch them use it.
He was a vile human being and anyone who defends him by saying “oh he said a lot of things” doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously.
Sure Howard Stern made a lot of off color comments over the years but I can’t recall a time when he basically stated that men should be invited to watch women have sex because they use birth control covered by their insurance.
The only reason I bring this up is because Trump was only allowed to become the Republican nominee because Rush Limbaugh paved the way for him.
History should not forget that. Nor should we gloss over the legacy of a bad person just because they died a few days ago.
Zreebs says
Of Course, Limbaugh contributed to Trump being elected. His rantings were every bit as offensive as Trump’s. Perhaps more so.
I recall how Limbaugh used to say “Democrats want to …” and then say something that almost no Democrat would ever want. That is who Limbaugh was.
Scott P says
I believe Limbaugb was also the first one to call it the Democrat Party instead of it’s name the Democratic Party. Now virtually all Republicans save the Larry Hogan types do that.
Democratic Socialist Dave says
No, Scott, Republicans (especially at conventions) talked about the Democrat Party years before I’d ever heard of Rush Limbaugh.
[I don’t know what this “Democrat Party” is, maybe it was just some transient, little-known, long-gone fringe group that right-wing talk media have fantasized into an Existential Threat to the Republic, like NAMBLA or the New Black Panthers.
I know that I, for one, have never attended a Democrat Party meeting or rally, let alone encountered a Democrat Party candidate or campaign. Has anyone else? Matter of fact, I don’t think that this “Democrat Party” is even listed on a single state ballot or recognized by the FEC. Has any voter here registered with this Democrat Party?]
jamesb says
I HAVE been pointing out here for years that Donald Trump IS JUST about HIMSELF….
About making money off of ANYTHING he can touch….
The US taxpayer included…
The screwed up thing is millions of Republican have allowed him to co-op ‘their’ party….
Jack’s right…
They have nothing inside …
This guys been and will continue to pimp their party…
jamesb says
Look at Texas….
The place IS backwards….
But it is more important to NOT let Democrats help them…
So they wallow in their own shit….
And follow a guy who has everything he touches turn to shit….
I feel sorry for some of the people there…
And they won’t leave….
Democratic Socialist Dave says
James’ comment (essentially let Texans freeze in the dark, to coin an oilpatch taunt) is not only unbelievably cruel but unbelievably stupid.
Do I make myself clear?
Millions and millions of Texans vote and vote regularly for Democrats and against the G.O.P.
And, as with Covid-19 and as with school closings, the Democrats tend to be in locations and situations where the shutoff of power and water in heavy winds and freezing weather make life even more miserable (that is, if they can stay alive) than it is for other Texans, let alone for powerful, privileged, unfeeling, soulless ideologues and demagogues such as Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott.
So why punish suffering underprivileged Democrats for a quarrel with overprivileged Republicans? The former have to go to work in hospitals, on trucks and buses, in the fields and at checkout counters rather than take Congressional holidays in Cancûn
I’m not a Christian, but a Christian would forebear even from withholding help to Trump voters, Trump enablers and Trump co-conspirators.
Do I make myself clear?
jamesb says
Very Clear DSD…..
Democrats in THAT state NEED to get better….
If they can do something Georgia?
Why NOT Texas?
How Mann Democrats are gonna say I do NOT VOTE I’ll wallow in my misery?
Why punish?
I’m NOT punishing ANYONE….
Those oppressed need to organise and come out a VOTE like their lives depend on it!
It DOES….
And THAT isn’t STUPID….
That’s doing SOMETHING….
jamesb says
And DSD?
If U turn on ur TV and watch the media stories?
The people interviewed are POOR people…..
Black, Brown, Yellow and Yes White….
The lawmakers in the state are so dumb that they make sure the busted pipes and need for water falls just on the poorer people who do NOT VOTE?
Maybe the people will vote for Abbott again next year?
Democratic Socialist Dave says
I forgot the other half of that: it’s politically stupid, too.
Texas is a swing state on the verge of turning purple or pink. Why should Democrats want to appear the easily-attacked villain (the Trumps or GWB’s when disaster strikes the Gulf), rather than showing how Uncle Sam (under Biden rather than GWB or DJT) is doing everything in Uncle Sam’s vast power to help?
Democratic Socialist Dave says
The headline you don’t want to see is:
DEMS TO TEXAS: “DROP DEAD!”
jamesb says
Better headline….
Texas political officals to their voter’s….
SHUT THE FUCK UP …SUFFER…VOTE FOR US AGAIN‼️…
Keith says
At least Rush finally did something positive for Black History Month.
Scott is correct, Rush did popularize the phrase “Democrat Party.”
CG says
I do not even know what you are referring to
My Name Is Jack says
Glad to see someone else get one of these inane “ talkbacks.”
Innumerable times he will start out a comment
“Jack?”
Then post some remark that has nothing to with me or anything I’ve posted.
jamesb says
U made an off handed comment about Texas and snow…..
CG says
No I didn’t.
The only thing I said was about how severe the winter has been here lately.
Zreebs says
I don’t remember a February in my life where it snowed so often and remained cold for so long.
Absolutely miserable weather.
jamesb says
I had my snow blower out and I have shovelled today for the third time this season….
Scott P says
We’ve been under freezing here since the 1st of Feb. And we’ve had snow on the ground for almost 2 weeks. After this past Monday’s snow it’s almost a foot on the ground.
We normally don’t have snow more than a handful of days in the entire winter.
Scott P says
The latest QAnon theory on Texas blackouts?
Caused by Biden letting China hack the grid when he stopped the Keystone pipeline.
jamesb says
They ARE LOST out there…..
Zreebs says
I knew it was ultimately the Democrats’ fault!
jamesb says
Everybody BUT ABBOTT….
And he’ll get re-elected next year…..
jamesb says
QAnon Says Texas Blackouts Are Biden’s and China’s Fault
Vice News: “The basic outline of the theory is that President Joe Biden allowed China access to the U.S. power grid when he signed the Keystone Pipeline Executive Order, and by doing so somehow allowed China to hack the U.S. power grid and cause the blackouts that Texas has suffered over the last week.”
“Of course, this theory, which has no basis in fact, fails to mention that Texas’ power grid is operated and maintained by Texas, and not part of the two major federally-controlled power grids that service every other state in the country.”