As a Texan, when I heard a snowstorm was coming, I was definitely not prepared. I figured maybe it meant enough snow to take some cute pictures, and then it would all be melted by the morning. Boy was I wrong.
I could not have anticipated this storm meaning rolling outages or in some cases major blackouts, major crashes and impossible to drive roads, and worst of all, even deaths. Through these catastrophic times, who would you look to? Your leaders, right? Well in Texas' case - wrong.
Here are 23 unbelievable things that happened during Texas' snowstorm.
1. Our Texas state Senator heading to Cancun... during the snow storm
Ted Cruz Travel GIF by GIPHY NewsGiphyYeah, you read that right, our Texas state Senator Ted Cruz packed up himself and his family and left for Cancun. He left behind his constituents and dog to freeze and deal with power outages and lack of food supply. He claimed he was going to drop off his family, however, it was reported he bought his plane ticket back to Texas at 6:45 am the next morning after the story broke.
2. Our governor made memes on Twitter
Here is how one Texan is protecting his outdoor faucet from the cold winter weather. @Whataburger of course. https://t.co/YZpfoRlYoU— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott) 1613261325.0
Instead of providing information, trying to ease the public's anxieties, or working towards a solution, Governor Greg Abbott made memes on Twitter.
3. Our former Governor claimed we would rather have no power over federal intervention
Perry says Texans wiling to suffer blackouts to keep feds out of power market https://t.co/p0Kcw2u24s— Houston Chronicle (@Houston Chronicle) 1613575556.0
Not sure who former Governor Rick Perry was speaking for when he claimed Texans would rather take no power over Federal intervention of our power grid, but it certainly wasn't Texans who lacked power.
4. False information about wind turbines abounded
It needs to be LOUDLY emphasized that this is a lie. Wind and solar power actually overperformed expected winter ca… https://t.co/SZKHAmMoDA— Respectable Lawyer (@Respectable Lawyer) 1613530412.0
Not only did Governor Greg Abbott fail to provide solutions, but he also further provided misinformation about the power grid. He claimed this was a result of the Green New Deal (which isn't in effect) and Wind Turbines (which wasn't true).
5. Texans died from hypothermia
The family of an 11-year-old Texas boy who died last week after a record-breaking deep freeze is suing the Electric… https://t.co/OUAYnIH0bg— CNN (@CNN) 1614145431.0
Last week's snowstorm was also unfortunately deadly.
6. ERCOT members resigned after the power outages
Breaking: Four ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas resign in the aftermath of the power outage, winter st… https://t.co/prt9R68MNZ— Texas Tribune (@Texas Tribune) 1614114305.0
After ERCOT's major failure, it was discovered some of the board members don't even reside in Texas. Or didn't that is, as ERCOT board members are now resigning.
7. A mayor in Texas told everyone to "suck it up" - and then resigned
The mayor of Colorado City, Texas resigned hours after he posted an insensitive message telling residents "only the… https://t.co/62SnOP4uAJ— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU 11 News Houston) 1613594700.0
While Texans were struggling for basic necessities such as power and water, this Colorado City mayor told his constituents to "suck it up," and that "only the strong will survive." Yeah, this really happened.
8. Despite Texans having power outages, some electricity bills sky-rocketed
Texas woman who received $9,300 electricity bill files class-action lawsuit against wholesale electricity provider… https://t.co/9jMz4oAnBn— Howard Walls (@Howard Walls) 1614142229.0
Despite most of Texas being without power, some Texans are receiving sky-high electricity bills.
9. AOC was a key-player in stepping-up for Texans
We hit $3.2 MILLION in Texas relief support last night! One of the places it’s going is the Houston Food Bank. I’m… https://t.co/hvUA3ewtbm— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1613837428.0
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Representative for New York's 14th District) ended up being one of the ones to raise the most money and aid for Texas. Yeah, a New York Representative came to Texas' aid.
10. A Black Texas teen was arrested for walking home in the snow
Charges Dropped Against Black Texas Teen Who Was Arrested Simply for Walking Home From Work During the Winter Storm… https://t.co/FkI45Qhd1V— The Root (@The Root) 1614043773.0
You read that right, a Black Texas teen was arrested for simply walking home with groceries during the snowstorm. His groceries never made it home as he was in jail for the night. Police have since dropped the charge of, "being a pedestrian in a roadway."
11. Grocery stores in Texas were wiped out
Y'ALL LOOK AT THIS. https://t.co/3xkaS3qh7T— laundry 🦷 (@laundry 🦷) 1613796262.0
H-E-B (which is the Texas grocery store) was completely wiped out in most places and had to issue a statement about supply levels.
12. ERCOT, which failed Texas, made snippy tweets
this is the company that manages the vast majority of texas's energy load saying "unplug your stand mixers" as if t… https://t.co/Fcy8vesw3U— sarah zedig! 🍉🐐 (@sarah zedig! 🍉🐐) 1613523023.0
While millions of Texans were without power, ERCOT's social media team was busy making snappy tweets.
13. ERCOT was allowed to raise prices
That's right - in the middle of you having NO power for 24+ hours, the Public Utility Commission has passed an emer… https://t.co/6JlHvHj46k— 𝖌𝖜𝖊𝖓 (@𝖌𝖜𝖊𝖓) 1613497523.0
Because electricity was now a scarcity, ERCOT was allowed to raise prices.
14. There was a deadly 100+ car pileup
On the first day of icy and untreated roads, there was a deadly 100+ car pileup that kept the Interstate closed for hours.
15. It was so cold in Texas that ceiling fans were frozen
Result of power outage In Texas due to snow storm. Temperature has dropped below freezing point. Praying for Nige… https://t.co/ecFSm8apCR— Stanley Ezinna, MBA. (@Stanley Ezinna, MBA.) 1613595859.0
This is how cold it was in Texas.
16. Texans struggled to find water
This is not a third world country. This is Houston, Texas. I spotted a line of people filing up buckets of water fr… https://t.co/RCDrdRC0ZT— Erica Simon (@Erica Simon) 1613611340.0
The majority of Texas was put on boil-water notice, despite not having power. There was a struggle to even find water at all.
17. Texans died while they tried to keep warm
Two dead from carbon monoxide poisoning after using a car for heat in Texas winter storm, police say. https://t.co/CMr6dvjsnc— NBC News (@NBC News) 1613488445.0
As the temperatures dropped, there was a rise in cases of carbon monoxide poisonings as Texans tried to stay warm.
18. The Texas Lt. Governor was still trying to spread misinformation
Y’all somehow let me miss TJ Holmes dragging @DanPatrick for absolute FILTH this morning on @GMA. Watch till the… https://t.co/kIUJdAOBSB— Tayhlor Coleman (@Tayhlor Coleman) 1613797800.0
It also came out that Texas was warned way ahead of time that something like this might occur if proper precautions weren't taken. When asked about it, Texas' Lt. Governor tried to provide false information.
19. Beto O'Rourke (former Texas Representative) also was a key-player in Texas' aid
I’ll be knocking on doors tomorrow in the RGV to check in on residents and see how we can help with food, water and… https://t.co/x6cgo3n599— Beto O'Rourke (@Beto O'Rourke) 1614056073.0
Beto O'Rourke, who is more widely known for his race for Senate against Ted Cruz, was also instrumental in Texas' aid. He raised money, water, and supplies, and went down to the Rio Grande Valley to provide aid along with AOC.
20. The lack of water in Texas also hit the fire departments
They are just letting houses burn. No water,...Houston, tx. https://t.co/fGXW6QmU5g— ♥Kathy♥Lucky Charms 🇺🇸🇵🇷🇩🇪🇮🇪❤❤❤ (@♥Kathy♥Lucky Charms 🇺🇸🇵🇷🇩🇪🇮🇪❤❤❤) 1613653855.0
This video also shows the San Antonio Fire Department being unable to put out an apartment complex fire.
21. Texas pizza workers behind the scenes
These are Dominos pizza workers, exhausted from 24 hours of making food and giving it away to people in desperate n… https://t.co/9dpK4MLe0y— Amanda Softstar🏹 (@Amanda Softstar🏹) 1613869255.0
These Dominos pizza workers were absolutely exhausted after working hard to feed those they could.
22. We actually got snow
All of us here in #Texas learned a painful lesson this week... BE PREPARED! In 23 years our rescue has never exper… https://t.co/PjvXYrvHiB— Bubbles Rescue Horse (@Bubbles Rescue Horse) 1613852655.0
Okay but Texas actually got snow.... And lots of it.
23. Yet somehow, we're back
a week in aggieland @TAMU https://t.co/AVk2iWUtnG— Kristyn Theriot (@Kristyn Theriot) 1614133189.0
And wouldn't you know it, a week later and it's like nothing ever happened.
