We are fast approaching the 5th anniversary since the Texas Freeze of February 11-20, 2021. Can you believe it's been 5 whole years? If you ever need a conversation piece, just bring up the "Texas snowpocalypse" or ask a fellow Texan what THEY were doing during the blackout. The room will explode with tales of woe!
⚡ 1. Extended power outages
This was the single biggest surprise.
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Millions lost electricity for days, not hours.
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Many Texans assumed outages would be brief and rolling, as in past winter events.
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Homes lost heat, lighting, refrigeration, internet, and medical equipment simultaneously.
Why this mattered:
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Most Texas homes rely on electric heating (or gas systems that still need electricity to run).
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Few households owned generators, battery backups, or alternative heat sources.
💧 2. Water system failures
Many people did not expect water to fail statewide.
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Pipes froze and burst in homes and municipal systems.
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Power loss knocked out water treatment and pumping stations.
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Large cities issued boil-water notices or lost water pressure entirely.
Why this mattered:
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People lacked stored drinking water.
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Toilets, sinks, and hygiene became unusable.
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Fire suppression systems were compromised in some areas.
🔥 3. Safe emergency heating
People were unprepared for how dangerous improvised heating could be.
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Some used cars, grills, or generators indoors.
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Others relied on fireplaces or space heaters without proper ventilation.
Result:
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A surge in carbon monoxide poisoning deaths.
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House fires from overloaded circuits and unsafe heaters.
🏠 4. Homes not built for prolonged freezing
Texas housing is designed for heat, not extreme cold.
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Poor insulation in walls, attics, and pipes.
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Exposed plumbing in attics or exterior walls.
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Limited experience with pipe winterization (dripping faucets, insulating lines).
Consequence:
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Massive property damage once pipes thawed.
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Long-term displacement for some residents.
🧠 5. Severity and duration of the event
Many people underestimated:
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How cold it would get (single digits or below in much of the state).
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How long it would last (nearly a week in some areas).
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How widespread the failures would be (urban and rural alike).
Past cold snaps had been shorter and more localized, creating a false sense of security.
🏥 6. Medical and caregiving continuity
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People dependent on oxygen, dialysis, refrigerated medication, or powered devices were especially vulnerable.
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Emergency services and hospitals were stretched while also dealing with power and water issues.
🧾 Big picture takeaway
People weren’t just unprepared for cold weather — they were unprepared for a systemic failure where:
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Power, water, heat, communication, and emergency services failed at the same time.
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Individual preparedness assumed infrastructure would still work.
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