01/17/2024
Well, as predicted, my husband was WRONG AGAIN! Not only it gets freezing cold in Houston, it also snows.
This is my take back after the Artic Blast… let’s call it “The lessons I learned”
The cold here hits harder than in WA. Why? It comes unexpectedly, your body doesn’t have a chance to progressively adapt. Also, the moisture in the air… yes, that humidity that makes your hair look bigger during the spring/summer time… that same one! It gets to your bones. And now, let’s add the wind and you get the most annoying cold sensation that literally hits you to the core. And them after 3 days, let’s go back to the 70’s. Yes, from 15 this morning to 71 tomorrow afternoon.
I dislike it. Not because of the weather itself but because of how unprepared our homes are to face cold temperatures. Our houses can defeat heat waves in a blink. Freezing temperatures are another completely different story…
I saw people around the country making fun of Texans. Let me tell you something: Texans are still traumatized after the freeze of 2021. You don’t know what it is to go through the storm praying that your pipes hold on and you don’t lose power… or both. Asking yourself if you did enough to protect, winterize or insulate your pipes. Are my faucets dripping? Should I drip one or all of them? Ehat about the attic? Should I open it? Not to mention cranking up your furnace. But not too much in case the grid can’t handle the demand. Plan A, B, C in case you lose power and your pool equipment stop working. Yes, that same pool equipment that will cost more than $15K to replace! What about the irrigation system? Did I vent the valves… wait a minute… my water softer is outside! Yes, there’s a lot of stress associated with a freeze. Even doing everything you are supposed to, is not a guarantee that your pipes will resist the freeze or that you won’t lose power! No one wants to submit a claim to our already extremely expensive homeowner’s insurance!
The rest of the country made fun of Texans for literally wiping out the stores. No one could find water cases or toilet paper. Let’s face it: how many boxes or packages of water or toilet paper can a store have on the floor? 200? If you supply an area with more than 5,000 houses and 10% of the families go and buy toilet paper or a case of water, of course it will be out of stock. Also, remember, the space taken on the floor is not the same for toilet paper than for chicken soup. Also, remember, not everyone eats chicken soup. But everyone wipes their 🍑s and drink water! If you lose power you must shut off the main valve and drain all your lines, so no water to drink or cook on your gas stove.
The cold front will last just a couple of days. Why do you need so much food? Let me explain it to you… if you lose power or your pipes burst, the stores are closed and/or there’s ice on the road you are prepared at home and don’t need to stress trying to go out and driving in the ice through bridges, passes and freeways because we know Texans can’t drive when it’s dry. What makes you think they can when there’s ice and/or snow?
Also, the Houston metro area is NOT prepared for this cold fronts (Keep telling yourself that global is a liberal tale). Do you know how many accidents were reported? Hundreds! I’m not going out because I might know how to drive in the ice and thesnow. But I don’t trust the rest of the population. Facts: they don’t know, they are stubborn and won’t stay home because this is Texas and no one will tell them what to do!
So next time I see a meme of someone in the North making fun of Texans, let’s wait for your next heat wave and how unbearable it is for you. Because here my friends, it’s a piece of cake! Maybe we can provide some advice without making you feel like a fool.
With that being said… your circumstances are different than ours. Let’s be more empathetic and less judgmental. Walk in each other’s shoes under the exact same circumstances before commenting!
Until the next artic blast!
