On Thursday evening, hundreds of thousands of Texans were left without power due to a massive ice storm that swept through the state. The storm caused statewide power outages and left nearly a half-million customers without electric power on Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted the ice storm would pass through by Thursday, but many Texans are still facing the consequences of the winter weather. Over 280,000 customers in the state remain without power, and Austin residents could be without electricity for days.
The freezing rain and power outages have halted normal life in Texas, with many people shivering in homes without heat or electricity. Frustration is growing among Texans as they endure this winter storm with no end in sight.
"The Texas power grid has maintained ample supply throughout the winter weather this entire week," Governor Greg Abbott tweeted. "Any outages are due to local issues like fallen trees and downed power lines." The last time the state saw this situation in 2021, Abbott was blamed for not allowing the grid to be connected to the rest of the country and for responding too slowly.
At least 10 people have died as a result of the storm, which stretched from Texas to West Virginia. Millions of people are on alert for dangerously cold weather, ice, and flooding.
As Texans wait for their lives to return to normal, they must stay vigilant against further storms and icy conditions that could put them at risk.
Image of 2021 Texas ice storm By Jno.skinner - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=100196942
News
National
Bob Peryea
National Correspondent
The Kentucky Daily