2022-2023 Winter Weather Thread

[Armybrat 40798]

22 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Sucker. Had you waited, your trees would have been trimmed for free this week. 

I spent a grand having our trimmed in December.

[Blotto 23477]

1 minute ago, Mrs Whiggins said:

That was when I was young and don't really remember, the one I 'm talking about was around 2007/08 but Tulsa has had these storms a little more frequently compared to central Texas, due to the way the jet stream typically would drop south in Dec thru Feb.  My folks lived in the southern hilly part of the city with no guardrails or curbs and what was thrilling as a kid became rather terrifying after I learned how to drive.

Yeah I doubt anything in Tulsa's history tops that 07 ice storm. My folks lived north of Tulsa and I happened to be visiting when that one happened. I'll be surprised if I ever see an ice storm that rivals that one. 

[Grade of D as in David 13253]

5 minutes ago, Blotto said:

Yeah I doubt anything in Tulsa's history tops that 07 ice storm. My folks lived north of Tulsa and I happened to be visiting when that one happened. I'll be surprised if I ever see an ice storm that rivals that one. 

Please don't taunt mother nature.

[Trey3216 15335]

56 minutes ago, strangulation! said:

were you not great-great-great grandfathered in?

They didn’t like him waving the Magna Carta at them in an aggressive manner 

[JesusSweatDuck 17780]

1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Top half of a chinaberry broke off. Only kept it for the shade it provided, but now my hand is forced and I’ll have to remove the whole thing. 
 

I think some municipalities won’t even pick up chinaberry. 

[GhostOfTomJoad 9323]

Furk.

[Deej 76735]

1 hour ago, MissingInAction said:

Demanding accountability from CoA admin, and putting this disaster on a failure to learn from the previous disasters. 

Also calling out the 100s of millions spent on studies and other bullshit.

This is Adlers shit show not his IMO.

I'm looking forward to seeing the photos from the embedded artist assigned to the utility department. 

[YChang 3440]

Woo! I get to join the power outage fun up here in 78717. Let see how long my battery wall lasts me before power is restored. 

[Neonmoon 38129]

50 minutes ago, yoladu said:

i had very Archie Bunker type thoughts last night as i was shivering in the dark in my own goddamn house with the thermostat reading 48F.

• I pay my utilities bills on time without fail.
• i have worked hard my entire life. i don't deserve to have to live like this.
• I already lived this 2 years ago for 96 hours, WTF?

i mean, i know i am spoiled considering how the rest of the 7.9 billion people on this planet live, but last night sucked (all over again).

I guess part of it is the lack of control. 

FYI

 

[Your Mom 4805]

1 hour ago, mackavelli said:

Have an EGO electric chainsaw ready for pickup at Lowes.   Is that everyones plan this weekend?   Cut the fallen branches and then do what?  Bonfire for the next few weeks?   Haul it off?  

Large brush pickup in my ‘hood is in less that 2 weeks.  Good timing and my street is going to keep them busy. 

[BrickHorn 18207]

56 minutes ago, yoladu said:

i had very Archie Bunker type thoughts last night as i was shivering in the dark in my own goddamn house with the thermostat reading 48F.

• I pay my utilities bills on time without fail.
• i have worked hard my entire life. i don't deserve to have to live like this.
• I already lived this 2 years ago for 96 hours, WTF?

i mean, i know i am spoiled considering how the rest of the 7.9 billion people on this planet live, but last night sucked (all over again).

I guess part of it is the lack of control. 

This city and state need to start investing in basic infrastructure. Which means we need to pay more taxes / higher prices for utilities. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. All the money we saved by not paying to maintain trees around power lines has cost us in inconvenience and hassle. And we end up paying for that tree maintenance eventually. 

No politics, etc., but this country’s (and especially this state’s) addiction to bare minimum taxes at the expense of basic maintenance have fucked us. It was always myopic, greedy bullshit. Trees over power lines are just the canary in the coal mine. Other neglected infrastructure is rotting on a longer timescale.

[Wally Pryor 5260]

1 hour ago, MissingInAction said:

Also calling out the 100s of millions spent on studies and other bullshit.

It wouldn't be the city council without consultants / studies. 

[Wally Pryor 5260]

1 hour ago, yoladu said:

i had very Archie Bunker type thoughts last night as i was shivering in the dark in my own goddamn house with the thermostat reading 48F.

Should have went over to Jefferson's house. Bet his heat was working. 

[Brisketexan 104919]

2 minutes ago, BrickHorn said:

This city and state need to start investing in basic infrastructure. Which means we need to pay more taxes / higher prices for utilities. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. All the money we saved by not paying to maintain trees around power lines has cost us in inconvenience and hassle. And we end up paying for that tree maintenance eventually. 

No politics, etc., but this country’s (and especially this state’s) addiction to bare minimum taxes at the expense of basic maintenance have fucked us. It was always myopic, greedy bullshit. Trees over power lines are just the canary in the coal mine. Other neglected infrastructure is rotting on a longer timescale.

I cannot emphasize this, or rep it, enough.

For decades, everyone in the state has bragged endlessly about "lowest utility rates!  Lowest taxes! Friendliest regulatory environment!"

If you own a home and don't repair/replace the roof, don't maintain exterior cladding, don't maintain your HVAC, don't replace components when they break (you just duct tape them and call it done), and don't carry sufficient insurance......those chickens are going to come home to roost, and they're very, very big chickens.

Think 100 year old clay sewer pipe.  Think bridges built during the Great Depression.  Think water lines laid by WWII vets just back from the front.  Etc. etc. ad infinitum.  Teh day of reckoning is already here.  50-60 years of "cost-savings" -- just like the "cost-savings" you realized by not maintaining your house above, have caught up with us.

[PTINS 3457]

1 hour ago, Gap03 said:

I'm coming to the conclusion that it may be time to give up on landscaping here in Austin.  Tough to find trees / plants that can survive 110F with no rain for 4 months + ice storms + sub 20F weather for a week at a time + 70 mph windstorms in the spring.  Maybe just synthetic grass the whole damn yard?

We did some of that; and it's fucking worse!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 8th generation Texan, born in Austin, dad was born in Pflugerville and mom in Bastrop. In 2014, we bought our "final resting place" in Driftwood.  The developer gave me the plats and I drove my F250 through the country to see what area looked like.  We choose 2 lots covered w/ mature oaks, a couple of 4 ft diameter (~ 100-150 years old) and about thirty 2-3 ft diameter.  The rest of the lot was covered with persimmon, cedars and  algarita.  We turned the house on the lot to face the line of large oak trees towards the south.  The builders who bought 20-30 lots were pissed to holy hell that I got first pick of the lots, the corner with the big trees.

We kept it natural, selectively removing small trees and trimming branches to optimize esthetics and habitat for the Hill Country critters.  We also did not put in a lawn, because  watering a large lot in the Hill Country is STUPID.    

Until 2 days ago, we enjoyed our little island covered with a canopy of mature oaks, that has served as a mini oasis for whitetail deer.  Every spring, we have been blessed with new fawns born here, and every fall, trophy bucks have come by looking for a hookup.

That literally came crashing down yesterday and today.

These are the same twin trees, 2 years apart.

February 2021

February 2023

Yesterday, Feb 1

Today, Feb 2

Every tree I have looks like this. I am crushed.

I have no words to describe my emotions this morning.

[Your Mom 4805]

2 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Breaking out the aero press before I kill one of my children. 

 

51 minutes ago, stc said:

No power since 6am yesterday in NE Austin. This could be a contributing factor...

Hey kids, check out the new zip line! 

[Gourmand 7774]

1 hour ago, Hate said:

Post them…and pics of sister.

unless she sleeps in the raw with armybrat

[elguapo 4583]

3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I cannot emphasize this, or rep it, enough.

For decades, everyone in the state has bragged endlessly about "lowest utility rates!  Lowest taxes! Friendliest regulatory environment!"

If you own a home and don't repair/replace the roof, don't maintain exterior cladding, don't maintain your HVAC, don't replace components when they break (you just duct tape them and call it done), and don't carry sufficient insurance......those chickens are going to come home to roost, and they're very, very big chickens.

Think 100 year old clay sewer pipe.  Think bridges built during the Great Depression.  Think water lines laid by WWII vets just back from the front.  Etc. etc. ad infinitum.  Teh day of reckoning is already here.  50-60 years of "cost-savings" -- just like the "cost-savings" you realized by not maintaining your house above, have caught up with us.

 

[HenryJames 65969]

4 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Think 100 year old clay sewer pipe.  Think bridges built during the Great Depression.  Think water lines laid by WWII vets just back from the front.

Those all made me think @Armybrat.

[Deej 76735]

3 minutes ago, Gourmand said:

unless she sleeps in the raw with armybrat

 

[Pato del Muerto 52461]

Haven’t lost power since yesterday morning, but my lights keep flickering a few times every half hour or so like someone is trying to communicate from the upside down. 
 

and here lies much of my backyard shade

Edited February 2, 2023 by Pato del Muerto

[South Austin 52373]

SIAP, but anyone else hearing that we may be getting a boil water notice, and possibly lose water, sometime today?

[Deej 76735]

Just now, South Austin said:

SIAP, but anyone else hearing that we may be getting a boil water notice, and possibly lose water, sometime today?

Yippee!

[Samson's Wig 3187]

13 minutes ago, BrickHorn said:

This city and state need to start investing in basic infrastructure. Which means we need to pay more taxes / higher prices for utilities. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. All the money we saved by not paying to maintain trees around power lines has cost us in inconvenience and hassle. And we end up paying for that tree maintenance eventually. 

No politics, etc., but this country’s (and especially this state’s) addiction to bare minimum taxes at the expense of basic maintenance have fucked us. It was always myopic, greedy bullshit. Trees over power lines are just the canary in the coal mine. Other neglected infrastructure is rotting on a longer timescale.

Tell me you don't live in Austin without telling me you don't live in Austin.

Texans deal with an overall tax burden on par with most states, e.g. most people are surprised to learn Coloradans pay less.  Our sales and property taxes more than make up for the income tax component, which was never actually a burden due to the ability to deduct it from your federal return until a couple of years ago.  It's how we spend our money that's the problem.  There's plenty in the budget for trimming trees in Austin, but our fearless leaders choose to spend that money elsewhere. 

[Grade of D as in David 13253]

Just now, South Austin said:

SIAP, but anyone else hearing that we may be getting a boil water notice, and possibly lose water, sometime today?

I mean that's pretty much expected at this point right?

[DaysOff 7933]

So glad we called our tree guy at 9am yesterday. They arrived at 8am this morning. Said we were first and he's overwhelmed because his phone keeps ringing with previous customers.

[Samson's Wig 3187]

1 minute ago, South Austin said:

SIAP, but anyone else hearing that we may be getting a boil water notice, and possibly lose water, sometime today?

County District 10 is already on a boil water notice.   How we don't have backup power to our water treatment facilities after the last few years is a disgrace. 

[drt 637]

I’m going to keep saying it, but putting local distribution power lines anywhere but underground is fucking stupid and we are now paying the piper. 
 

In other news I’m expecting AISD to call it for tomorrow soon. Just can’t see buses running and all the schools having power and cleanup done. 

[LonghornSean 3985]

[UTexasFight 9421]

1 hour ago, ChickenSandwich said:

My neighbor across the street bought propane heater, 5 5 gallon gas tanks and a generator after snowmaggedon. We laughed she may never even use them. She is laughing now. 
 

96hours out front says get a Genny

Propane is the way to go /Hank Hill

 

but I just got the last piece I needed this past weekend (thanks to the “hypothetical” icepocalypse a few on here were warning about last week) to connect my generator in to the electric panel

best ~$350 I ever spent 

[The Dog 43973]

16 minutes ago, DaysOff said:

So glad we called our tree guy at 9am yesterday. They arrived at 8am this morning. Said we were first and he's overwhelmed because his phone keeps ringing with previous customers.

yup we did the same - sent pictures and will have someone here today or tomorrow. smart to get the call in before you see all of the damage. 

It looks like schools may be closed tomorrow as well - RRISD is assessing the damage as some schools lost power and still don't have it back on. 

[hornbri 1384]

With still 150k addresses in austin without power I don’t see how AISD does school tomorrow, we are in LISD expecting to hear something soon.

[hornian 5210]

6:00 Friday ain’t happening folks:

 

[tx 3 putt 76766]

Just now, hornbri said:

With still 150k addresses in austin without power I don’t see how AISD does school tomorrow, we are in LISD expecting to hear something soon.

No way 

[hornbri 1384]

 

[yoladu 4089]

34 minutes ago, Wally Pryor said:

Should have went over to Jefferson's house. Bet his heat was working. 

you saying all the deluxe apartments in the sky in downtown Austin have power? 😀

[tx 3 putt 76766]

2 minutes ago, hornian said:

6:00 Friday ain’t happening folks:

 

[Deej 76735]

7 minutes ago, hornian said:

6:00 Friday ain’t happening folks:

 

 

[crash_davis 23091]

Blaming the energy companies for the power outages is probably barking up the wrong tree. The energy companies trim the limbs from the power lines. But as you've been seeing pics, you have whole trees or branches falling everywhere. The energy companies cannot do anything to protect the lines when the damn tree falls on it and takes it out. This shit is happening everywhere. A fixed number of repair teams fixing hundreds, maybe thousands, of issues all over the area is going to take time. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by crash_davis

[TexArcher 37745]

10 minutes ago, hornbri said:

 

Now tell us if it's potable...

[Deej 76735]

Can't Fitlump get out there and start cutting up fallen trees with her horn?

[Gourmand 7774]

Like many of y'all here, our oak tree in our front yard took a beating from this ice storm and I'm pretty damn bummed about it. Honestly can't tell if it we will have to just trim off the damage or if it's worse than that. Thankful it didn't damage our house or our neighbors' vehicles. 

 

[Gourmand 7774]

Looking for a reputable arborist in the Round Rock area. 

Recs?

[crash_davis 23091]

Just now, Gourmand said:

Looking for a reputable arborist in the Round Rock area. 

Recs?

Mother nature is trimming your trees free of charge. That's not enough?

[JesusSweatDuck 17780]

4 minutes ago, Gourmand said:

Looking for a reputable arborist in the Round Rock area. 

Recs?

We've use Roland before.  No idea how booked up he is at this point though

 

[crash_davis 23091]

My neighbor called his tree guy. I called my tree guy. Both vmail inboxes are full. Aint no tree guy answering any phone calls. They have as many jobs as they want for the next 2 weeks. I'm going to keep calling until he answers. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by crash_davis

[hornbri 1384]

LISD just called it for tomorrow. 

[JesusSweatDuck 17780]

LISD just cancelled school for tomorrow (Feb 3rd)

[Trey3216 15335]

3 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

My neighbor called his tree guy. I called my tree guy. Both vmail inboxes are full. Aint no tree guy answering any phone calls. They have as many jobs as they want for the next 2 weeks. I'm going to keep calling until he answers. 

We didn't get nearly as much ice in the Waco area as y'all did.  I can string together a list of a few tree folks for y'all if you need.  

[South Austin 52373]

18 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

Now tell us if it's potable...

Yes, you can transport it.