What Happened in Texas

In February of this year, we saw what could be a preview of up coming events across the United
States. Many are calling this Texageddon. The event started with power blackouts evolving into
the collapse of critical infrastructure. The effects of this event were felt far outside of Texas as
Texas greatly reduced their exports of natural gas to Mexico causing blackouts in northern
Mexico.
If Texas hadn’t implemented widespread blackouts, there was a real danger of a catastrophic grid
failure that could have lasted months.

Design of the Texas power grid

There are three power grids in the lower 48 states: the Eastern Interconnection, the Wester
interconnection and Texas. Texas has its own independent power grid called ERCOT run by
Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Some areas of Texas are not on the ERCOT grid, such as
El Paso, the upper Panhandle and a chunk of East Texas. Texas maintains its own power grid to
avoid jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and regulations on interstate
electric transmission.
However, the federal Department of Energy does have jurisdiction over power plants and in the
name of lower carbon emissions power production is capped at 60 percent of the plant’s
capacity.

Weather
A polar vortex plunged farther south than expected by anyone. The sudden drop in temperatures
caused residents to turn up their heaters placing a huge demand on the energy infrastructure.
Homes in Texas are not designed to deal with very cold weather and require more energy to heat.

Failure to Winterize
Texas had failed to properly winterize its energy grid. Two reactors at the South Texas Nuclear
Power Station tripped because the facilities were not winterized to withstand extreme cold
weather. Even natural gas pipelines froze and became inoperable in the extreme cold
temperatures, adding to the collapse of the energy infrastructure.

Fallout from COVID-19

For over a year, safety inspections haven’t been carried out or been delayed because of the fear
of exposing workers to the COVID-19 virus.

The Politics of Renewable Energy

Texas has invested heavily in the idea of renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuel-driven
energy generation. Between 25 and 40 percent of the state’s power is produced by wind farms
and solar farms. Wind farms were unable to withstand sub-freezing temperatures and froze up,
solar farms were covered in ice and snow and were unable to provide power.
Before the polar vortex struck Texas, Texas requested to increase its energy generation from a
maximum of 60 percent to full capacity. This request was rejected by President Biden.

Maricopa County Preparedness Team

Politics
Governor Abbott has requested a federal disaster declaration for 177 Texas counties has been
refused. Without a federal disaster money many families that were/are struggling to stay warm,
put food on the table, pay their bills and get help with the cleanup help is nowhere to be found.

Death Toll
Nearly 50 people have died because of the storm, these people died from hypothermia, carbon
monoxide poisoning, medical equipment not working, trapped in house fires, or dead from
crashes on icy roads. It may be months before the true death toll is known.

Water
If residents had water pressure, they were told to keep faucets dripping in an effort to keep them
from freezing. This resulted in water levels becoming dangerously low, and authorities warned
that the water may be unsafe to drink.

Food
Stores that were open quickly ran out of food on the shelves, and with the roads being icy the
trucks were not able to get to areas to resupply.
If stores had power then an interruption of the internet caused credit cards and EBT cards not to
be accepted.

Communications
Cell towers don’t have backup power supplies, so communications went down with the power
grid. Even if the towers had generators, with temperatures dropping to 12 degrees, it’s unknown
if backup generators would have started anyway, or how long the fuel would last.

Aftermath
Texas citrus crops have for the most part been destroyed. Texas is the third-largest citrus-
producing state and the results of the deep freeze will result in skyrocketing citrus prices at the
supermarket.
Frozen pipes that have burst flooded homes, schools, and business as warmer temperatures
returned.

What does all this mean to us

1. Local and state governments are quickly overwhelmed and completely unable to render
aid.
2. The federal government is to far away to offer assistance, as well as not being able to get
to one area that needs help when the entire state is in chaos.
3. No one is coming to help you and, in all likelihood, they can’t get to you even if they
wanted.
4. Physical fitness is a must if you’re going to help your family and other.
5. Be ready to deal with injuries
6. Plan for events that are low on the risk scale not just the ones most likely to happen.
Many of the things that have prepared for depend on only one event happening, be aware
that two or more events could happen at the same time.
Maricopa County Preparedness Team
 7. There isn’t such a thing as to much stored water and fuel.
8. Cash is king. No mater how much money you have in the bank or the credit limit you
have on your credit card, both are worthless without power.
9. Have layered food supplies that way a condition that might compromise one type of food
will not spoil your entire supply.
10. Batteries, batteries, and more batteries. Backup lights are a must for every member of
your family.
11. Don’t forget about a way to protect your family and what you have, just don’t spend all
the resources on guns and bullets, you can’t eat them.
12. Have and practice with some low-tech devices. Gravity fed water filters, hand saws and
hand powered drills, etc..
13. Look at your home and figure out what you can do to make it more energy efficient.
While Texas was hit with an extreme cold snap, what would happen if power was lost
during the summer here?

Maricopa County Preparedness Team