It's our 5th even in just a few weeks. Until this morning, the Advisories were for all counties around me. Now we're included. Hopefully our power will continue to hold out. I don't want to be Doin' a Houston.
Our power is back on, but not sure for how long. We have everything charged up and my husband drove over to check on his mom and take her some homemade chicken noodle soup. I'm glad I am "that person" who obsessively stockpiles cases of water and food; it has really come in handy to have a stack of cases of bottled water in the garage. We have been bringing buckets of water from the pool to flush toilets; I even filtered some pool water with coffee filters and boiled it for a few minutes. I use that to rinse off dishes, pots, etc. All local stores that are open have lines for miles and ran out of water yesterday. I have never seen such a mess. Since we typically run the pool pump during freezing temps, the lack of electricity meant that wasn't possible. I'm certain the pool pump is toast but hopefully that will be the biggest casualty and we won't have any broken water pipes.
That grocery store scene is a familiar one here every time the slightest bit of snow is called for. Goodness knows where all this stuff ends up, because then next event sees similar rushes. I guess with the lack of water pressure, turning your faucets on a trickle to keep them from freezing ain't possible. What a goat rodeo.
The lines at the stores are because people haven't had power for 3 days and their food has spoiled. We sat a few things from our fridge out on the patio table in the cold. My husband said there was a line of cars waiting to get into the Sonic Drive In about a mile long. There is NO water; no trickle, no drip. None.
I am now without water or electricity. If they cut off our gas, we will move into a bathroom with twenty, lit candles and the window slightly open so we don't run out of oxygen. I am so angry at myself for not testing my generator, monthly. I have ordered parts, but who knows when they'll get here. We have about forty-five gallons of water on hand, and a few great filters, but who knows how long this s#$t will keep going on......
Isn't this the most unbelievable thing? Our power is still on, thank goodness. I have been blasting the furnace to get things warmed up "just in case." My daughter who lives in Round Rock has had power and water the entire time, but my other daughter in Georgetown has been without power for over 2 days... so she and her kids are at her sister's place.
I aam worried about Gloria, too. I know that she is also in Texas, but not sure exactly which city. The last thing that she posted was that they had made it to a friend’s house, and didn’t have very good internet connections, and that things are bad there, too. We are getting snow here, and they are shutting the roads down except for emergency traffic, and some roads are completely closed. Don’t forget that if you lose most of your cell reception because so many people are trying to call, you can send a text much easier than making a phone call, because it only has to connect for a few seconds to send the text. Saying prayers for everyone affected by these storms, and hoping that things get better in Texas with the power and water situation.
Well, at 10:00 p.m., the "rolling blackout" rolled over us again. At least we had heat and lights for about 7 hours so the house is pretty warm right now, plus we had a nice warm dinner and got to watch a movie. Now it's back to candlelight and a pallet in front of the fireplace. We are better off than a lot of people so I'll just be grateful, though this whole mess is totally unacceptable.
@John Brunner Presently, needing no generator or gasoline storage, I keep a 5-gallon Jerry can on hand and every year or so dump it into my gas tank. I have started EFI engines which sat several years with little difficulty, the gas remaining in the engines' fuel rail evidently having gradually evaporated by draining away, or remained all stagnant and tarry, and the engines started. Suspect gasoline "shelf live" limitations is an overstated problem perhaps rendered for safety purposes.
@James Hintze Proportionately, how much energy is expended producing a gallon of gasoline in comparison? Frank
@Peter Renfro One can compare the safety of gasoline used by a carburetor to that in an EFI system. 4 or 5 psi (pounds per square inch) vs. 60 psi. A carburetor leak is commonplace. An EFI leak is virtually dangerous as hell. Similarly, liquified propane vs. gasoline. A crack in a gasoline storage can might dribble out; a crack in a propane tank is guaranteed capable of producing catastrophic results. Not trying to discredit use of propane. Hardly, as our house had a big tank of it out back when we bought it. Simply recommend diligence and care in handling and use of liquified gas of any kind (except carbon dioxide). Frank
@Beth Gallagher Generally, swim pool water kept properly disinfected is even safe to drink. Don't condone it, but I would not hesitate to wash dishes with it. Keep in mind that bacteria cling to water vapor droplets and larger dribbles; adequately drying dishes pretty much sanitizes them. Frank
@Beth Gallagher and @Trevalius Guyus: ..So sorry about what you and all the others in Texas are going through. I've been watching it on TV. Just an awful situation.
We are still at friends house. They live three miles from us they still have power and water! Yet we have been without since Monday . Bare with me..typing with no glasses on. Mark will drive to apartment today to check out. We do know pipes busted in our unit and complex. I don't know what else to say or think just trying to survive like everyone else. Y'all be careful and do best you can. After things d die down will do a Role Call. Well get back here when i can.