2020-21 Winter weather; bring it on

[utee94 15,745]

 

1 minute ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

FIFY. I would find a hotel with power now. Once it starts to get dark & colder, hotel rooms will be going fast. I assume many people are holding out for hope that the power comes back but there is no indication that is the case.

Yeah, for those in the "power out since 2 AM and it never rolled" camp, I feel for you, and I also think you should be looking for hotels/friends/tents under 183 overpasses that have power, for tonight.

[MissingInAction 24,822]

6 minutes ago, Gale Snoats said:

Anyone been out in central Austin today? Lost power over 12 hours ago and considering hotels but don’t know if I can get to one.

Snow gives some traction. Just drive as slow as possible.

[Somnio 751]

Praise the Lord!  My power just came back on!  Apartment is cold as fuck, but hopefully not for long!

 

[Somnio 751]

Look at this shit just outside my building.  The water heaters and washing machines on in the little storage space on the balconies.  This is obviously unheated space, and two pipes have already burst pouring water off the balconies.  Total shitshow.

 

[Anastasis 23,395]

 

 

[RockyMountainHighHorn 890]

Can anyone near Waco(between Dallas and Austin) let me know how 35 is? I know the chances of someone being on it is slim but maybe someone might have an idea how cleared it is. Thank you!

[Brisketexan 104,624]

I live NW Austin. Power has been out since 2am. Never rolled. 
 
We have a gas fire so we’re okay. But sleeping by the fire tonight so we don’t die is so Austin level of city management.
 

This is our plan. We’re staying here with both fireplaces going, and all faucets running, hoping to keep the interior above freezing and avoid damage. We’ll sleep in front of one of the fireplaces.

But this is nuts. I’m fucking cold. We have the upstairs at 48 degrees....during the warmest period of the day.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

[Brisketexan 104,624]

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

You’d think that, wouldn’t you? I know there are some folks without power in the Houston area. But it seems that the bulk of the outages, and they’re gonna be 24 hr or longer....are in Austin. We’re taking the punch for the state, I guess.

[RockyMountainHighHorn 890]

We are going to be fucked if the power goes back off tonight. No firewood to be seen at any store around our area. Actually no nothing at the stores around north Dallas. The line at whataburger looked to be at least 30 minutes long, the amount of people buying wood that I’m assuming shouldn’t be put in their fireplaces was astounding. You’d think there was a deadly virus going around and the walking dead was starting tomorrow....oh wait....

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

1 minute ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

Mansfield here. I’ve been without power since 3am. They started with rolling blackouts that lasted 15 minutes each around 11pm last night but no power at all for 12 hours now. I’m bundled up. Inside temp hanging on barely in the 50s

[Constant 6,722]

2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

I’m in DFW and havent had power since 2am. 

[Bigpoppapump 529]

2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

I got fam and friends in both DFW and Houston without power. Grandpa didn't have power for 4-5 hours this morning at his retirement home, such a shit show.

[RockyMountainHighHorn 890]

2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

There are some, including me, a few pages back. We got power back around noon after it being off since 2am. (North Dallas)

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,414]

2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

Houston has over 1m without power, according to the TV news, so it's not a picnic here for many.  City officials are also blaming ERCOT's lack of generation.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

Ok got it. Sampling bias. 

[Foosters 17,733]

I just finished reading "the Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my daughter. They survived like 7 months of blizzards with no firewood. They managed by making "hay sticks" to burn. You grab a bunch of hay/dead grass and tightly braid them together so that they'll burn longer. 

You're welcome.

[Skipper 6,103]

I haven't lost power (yet) in Dallas but know plenty who have.  I haven't seen anything definitive here indicating that if you don't have power now you won't have it back on until tomorrow like in Austin.   I know several that had it go off last night but had it come back on early afternoon.

[Brisketexan 104,624]

I just finished reading "the Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my daughter. They survived like 7 months of blizzards with no firewood. They managed by making "hay sticks" to burn. You grab a bunch of hay/dead grass and tightly braid them together so that they'll burn longer. 
You're welcome.

We had a good stock of wood. The boy and I cut up a bunch more yesterday. I’m hoping it lasts through tomorrow. We’re burning it, and losing ground on temps. Now 47 upstairs.

[Dbeasy 14,969]

If it makes anyone feel better, I hunt every year in South Dakota where it always drops down to minus temperature and we sleep in a bunk house with no insulation where the temperature drops down into the thirties and below. If you’ve got a decent sleeping bag, it’s tolerable. 

[utee94 15,745]

Just now, Brisketexan said:

We had a good stock of wood. The boy and I cut up a bunch more yesterday. I’m hoping it lasts through tomorrow. We’re burning it, and losing ground on temps. Now 47 upstairs.

I'm sure you have a bunch of downed tree limbs around your neighborhood.  Those will burn, though not nearly as well as seasoned wood.

[RPM 26,228]

47 minutes ago, Errestaurants said:

Everybody in my part of Trophy Club doesn’t have power. I think the older part does have power. We are staying at the Holiday Inn by HG tonight. As of right now they are good. 

Westlake power is full power last report. You should call Vaquero and complain.

[South Austin 52,144]

21 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

Interesting. I’m off Burnet and North Loop, and can’t think of any critical facilities close by. I consider myself lucky to have been spared the outage, at least for now.

[CleverNickname 1,293]

Possibly the first time I could say I might have better off heading to the hills (small barnondominium with wood heat stove). But I might not have considered turning water off first. Hmmm. Maybe better to be the captain on a sinking ship. 

[Knoxtnhorn 5,936]

14 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

Rowlett checking in.  Power out since 9am.  Got down to 55 in here. Using the fireplace for the first time.  This particular room isn't too bad.

[Nicole44 22,027]

So millions without power and that hasn’t reduced the strain on the grids? I admit while reading about all this I understand very little. Some of my neighbors are without power. Some without water. We have power just no water. People are pulling their kids on sleds with their cars now. 

[cactusflinthead 27,594]

12 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Am I not seeing power outage issues in DFW because it’s mostly austinites in here?  If the state is mandating things, it would seem like the DFW and Houston people would be on here sharing as well. 

I can holler more about it in Denton. I am sitting in the truck in the driveway because the power has been out since this morning or last night. I woke up around 6 to the dark of a blackout. We got power back for an hour and then off and then five minutes and now nothing since. Denton Power says through the autobot phone call that it is restored. Yeah, press 2 for No It Isn't.

[Knoxtnhorn 5,936]

10 minutes ago, Foosters said:

I just finished reading "the Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my daughter. They survived like 7 months of blizzards with no firewood. They managed by making "hay sticks" to burn. You grab a bunch of hay/dead grass and tightly braid them together so that they'll burn longer. 

You're welcome.

I made a reference to this exact same book about an hour or so ago.  Added that we might need to slaughter a hog out back for food.

[dcar00 14,035]

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

WTF

I think the 196K is half of central texas.  its over 2M in the state apparently.

[wildcat09 29,256]

21 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

You’d think that, wouldn’t you? I know there are some folks without power in the Houston area. But it seems that the bulk of the outages, and they’re gonna be 24 hr or longer....are in Austin. We’re taking the punch for the state, I guess.

Like half of Houston is without power. This shit sucks all over the state.

[dcar00 14,035]

7 minutes ago, Nicole44 said:

So millions without power and that hasn’t reduced the strain on the grids? I admit while reading about all this I understand very little. Some of my neighbors are without power. Some without water. We have power just no water. People are pulling their kids on sleds with their cars now. 

 

[Hanrahan 1,306]

Power just came back in west Houston.

[TexasHooch 5,117]

Hope ya'll don't get ice damns. That's a whole other layer of suck.

[Guest Lobo]

3 minutes ago, Knoxtnhorn said:

I made a reference to this exact same book about an hour or so ago.  Added that we might need to slaughter a hog out back for food.

So what, so you just have this random hog out back?  What were you gonna do with it before the winter storm?  

Is there a way to see what "circuit" you're on with Austin Energy?  I'm hoping we are on one of these critical circuits but I ain't holding my breath.  Thanks

[GhostOfTomJoad 9,307]

If there's one small positive bit I can take from this shit sandwich is that my wife & I know without a doubt that putting our 13 yo Shepherd down 2 weeks ago was the right time for her. She struggled enough with the cold & snowfall we had in early January. This would have been miserable for her.

[Mrs Whiggins 13,049]

7 minutes ago, Knoxtnhorn said:

I made a reference to this exact same book about an hour or so ago.  Added that we might need to slaughter a hog out back for food.

I have loved that book since I was little.
Also, the malnutrition the town suffered that winter affected the residents their whole lives. Really take things for granted and it makes me appreciate having food. 

Edited February 15, 2021 by Mrs Whiggins

[RPM 26,228]

2 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

Yeah, press 2 for No It Isn't.

It's like when I call Centurylink for the 5th time in a month because my DSL is down and they ask me to power down my modem. Jeez, I never thought of doing that before I spent 10 minutes climbing through your phone tree to speak with Peggy in Manila reading her script. Unfortunately we aren't doing a damned thing to proceed until we power down. Peggy wins again even though the problem is a faulty power supply in their local switch.

[Zwylde 810]

Going on 13 hours without power here in Galveston but we’ve heard its due to a blown transformer.  Got to say I never expected to live like this on the island.  Piers and beams have their downsides I guess.

 

[Michael Knight 12,898]

13 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Interesting. I’m off Burnet and North Loop, and can’t think of any critical facilities close by. I consider myself lucky to have been spared the outage, at least for now.

Guessing you are on the same grid as the hospitals 

[MNLonghornFUKM 8,799]

Hope ya'll don't get ice damns. That's a whole other layer of suck.

I was just thinking about if the ground is frozen enough to where there’s a rapid melt, there could be flooding issues if the water can’t saturate

[dcar00 14,035]

52 minutes ago, fuggled said:

Here's the latest from Oncor.  I think people know most of this, but it's the first time I've seen anyone try to explain what's going on.

https://thewire.oncor.com/pages/article.html#oncor__emergency_operations_feb_15_afternoon_update

 

 

I fucking hate when douchebags, say "Again....".  I know what you are saying dumbass, the problem is you are the dumbass not me.

[dcar00 14,035]

Just now, MNLonghornFUKM said:

I was just thinking about if the ground is frozen enough to where there’s a rapid melt, there could be flooding issues if the water can’t saturate

I don't think we are going to be freezing for long enough for that.  that would take a pretty good while wouldn't it?  

[troph 24,562]

54 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

FIFY. I would find a hotel with power now. Once it starts to get dark & colder, hotel rooms will be going fast. I assume many people are holding out for hope that the power comes back but there is no indication that is the case.

This this this. 

[Mrs Whiggins 13,049]

Team No Flow is holding out but our power on/off cycles are going back to the short on longer off. We had an hour at noon and it’s been <30 minutes  on since then. Getting harder to keep the heat. 

[cactusflinthead 27,594]

 

[phdhorn 6,224]

6 minutes ago, GhostOfTomJoad said:

If there's one small positive bit I can take from this shit sandwich is that my wife & I know without a doubt that putting our 13 yo Shepherd down 2 weeks ago was the right time for her. She struggled enough with the cold & snowfall we had in early January. This would have been miserable for her.

I had to put down my 19 year old cat 2 weeks ago as well.  Miss the old gal, but I'm glad I can make more decisions on this without worrying about her.  Cats are less tolerant of cold (like old people!) so it would have added tons of stress.

She checked out on Sunday, Jan. 31, a brilliantly sunny day about 70°.  Thank God I didn't have to put her down in this mess, never mind it would have been impossible for a vet to get here.  God, don't even want to think about that.

Anyway, I'm sure you miss your gal just like I do mine.

[Hagbard Celine 10,763]

40 minutes ago, RockyMountainHighHorn said:

Can anyone near Waco(between Dallas and Austin) let me know how 35 is? I know the chances of someone being on it is slim but maybe someone might have an idea how cleared it is. Thank you!

red oak to wax: orange

wax to ross: green

ross to lorena: orange

lorena to troy: green

troy to 53 in temple: orange

53 in temple to prairie dell: green

orange or red all the way south from prairie dell to selma

 

 

[Parliament 14,138]

I don't think we are going to be freezing for long enough for that.  that would take a pretty good while wouldn't it?  

Yeah for all the crap that's gonna come out of this...you ounghtn't hafta worry. That said...

Some of the breaks in your water lines may not reveal themselves until they thaw out a bit. And some lines/connections might just be weakened. They're fine now, but'll give out in a week, month, year, etc.

[MNLonghornFUKM 8,799]

I don't think we are going to be freezing for long enough for that.  that would take a pretty good while wouldn't it?  

I would think so. A lot also depends how saturated the ground is before the storm but you probably won’t need to worry about flooding. Snow doesn’t pack that much precip

[phdhorn 6,224]

Nah, it's not gonna flood here.  Snow is 1/10 of rain, and even with the ice underneath it, it'll saturate pretty easily.

At least the ground is going to be nice and damp for the growing season, which almost incredibly, really starts within a week or so.

Wonder how my Bluebonnets are gonna do, right now buried under 7" of snow and ice?