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| An icicle hanging from a highway sign in Texas, USA on the 18th (local time). © AFP=News1 |
The record cold wave that struck the United States led to a four-day blackout in Texas. In the aftermath of the power outage, the people of Texas are having a hard time with no water and food shortages.
According to local media such as Reuters, AFP and The New York Times on the 18th (local time), some power has been restored in Texas, which was the most affected by the storm this winter, but a circular blackout continues due to a continuing cold wave.
According to poweroutage.us, a website that counts power outages in the United States, about 490,000 homes are out of electricity. Compared to the previous day, about 2.7 million households suffered a power outage, they recovered somewhat.
However, the Electric Power Reliability Commission (ERCOT), which operates the Texas power grid, said that although it has made significant progress in restoring power to most homes, a circular blackout is inevitable due to a cold wave over the next two days.
Texas has set up more than 300 emergency shelters for unheated residents, but Texas residents are outraged by the lack of preparedness for power outages.
David Hernandez, 38, who spent the night at a church in Houston, told AFP, “I tried to sleep in my car, but it was too cold.” “It was like sleeping in an icebox.”
Experts point out that even in 2011, even though Texas had a hard time supplying electricity due to an abnormal climate, the state was dependent on natural gas and was not prepared for the cold.
Gary Southern (68), who had lived his life in Texas, told Reuters that that afternoon, the power was restored for the first time since the electricity was cut off. I am frustrated,” he said.
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| The state of Texas with a blackout on the 17th (local time). © AFP=News1 |
Water pipes are ruptured due to power outages, and they are suffering from a shortage of drinking water.
According to the Texas Environmental Standards Commission (TCEQ), 154 out of 254 counties in Texas became singular, affecting 13.2 million people.
Texas has advised 7 million residents to boil water before using it for cooking or drinking.
The food crisis is accelerating as traffic is congested due to slippery snow and electricity and water are cut off.
The demand for ready-to-eat food without electricity and water is increasing rapidly, but even this is not readily available.
In Oregon, when a grocery store discarded perishable food, police collided with residents scouring trash cans for food.
President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Texas and Oklahoma on the same day and approved the U.S. Federal Management and Disaster Administration (FEMA) to supply supplies to the affected states.
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| A Texas-based pizza store clerk is resting tired of inundating orders (captured on Twitter). © News1 |
In the meantime, it was reported that Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a member of the Republican Party, headed to Cancun, a Mexican resort city with his family, and also fraudulently frauduled residents.
Earlier this week, in a radio interview earlier this week, he said, “Just stay at home,” and a picture of him trying to get on a plane was shared on social media.
As the controversy grew, Congressman Cruise made a statement and clarified, “After the school was closed for a week, my daughter said she was going on a trip with her friends, and I wanted to be a good father, so I flew together last night.”
Congressman Cruise returned by plane alone that afternoon, but NBC News reported that Congressman Cruise had booked a return flight from Cancun on the 20th.
Until this day, the death toll due to the cold wave seems to be in the mid to late 30s.
USA Today reported that at least 36 people and NYT reported that 38 people died in the aftermath of a winter storm. Most of them were traffic accidents, and there were many cases of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning while attempting heating.
The National Meteorological Administration (NWS) said the sub-zero temperatures in the southern central United States will continue until the 20th.
The winter storm that hit the southern states of Texas and other regions moved to the northeast, and some areas of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania are expected to receive 15 to 20 cm of snow.
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| Texas Senator Ted Cruz is waiting for a flight to Cancun, Mexico at the airport on the 17th (local time) as Texas suffers from a power outage due to a cold wave. © News1 |