Texas winter storm

[BettyNewbie]

For many Americans, this winter season has brought a level of pain and trauma more typical of a hurricane season.

And, the numbers reflect it.

The United States economy, already unstable from the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions, is now taking another hit from an unprecedented coast-to-coast winter storm. Since last week, at least 40 people have died across the U.S. from the extreme weather conditions as of Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

Hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and slipping on ice are among some of the causes of death across the country during the record-breaking cold.

The total damage and economic loss caused by the historic storm could be between $45 and $50 billion, AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers estimates.

To put the economic toll of the storm into context, AccuWeather's estimate for the entire 2020 hurricane season, the most active hurricane season on record, was $60-65 billion.

"We have been experiencing one of the stormiest patterns seen in decades," said Myers, who has been studying the economic impact of severe weather for over 50 years. "The damage has been exacerbated by the record cold temperatures that have pushed all the way to the Gulf Coast this week." Myers' expert analysis helps emphasize the magnitude of the life-threatening crisis's impact and the U.S. financial ramifications.

This winter has literally exceeded the damage totals of all but three hurricane seasons (2005, 2012, 2017) that occurred from 2000-2019. Austin has deteriorated into post-Katrina New Orleans levels of horror. This is a winter that will take years for many people to recover from.

[Tim]

One can hope that this will make the  Rethugs sit up and take notice on this fact:  Climate change is real! 

Hey, Zodiac Killer, why don't you go and explain to the people of Texas why climate change is just a liberal myth?   Of course, that would mean cutting your Mexican vacation short.

[BettyNewbie]

Feb 19, 2021 12:13:32 GMT -5 Tim said:

One can hope that this will make the  Rethugs sit up and take notice on this fact:  Climate change is real! 

Hey, Zodiac Killer, why don't you go and explain to the people of Texas why climate change is just a liberal myth?   Of course, that would mean cutting your Mexican vacation short.

bUt It'S cOlD oUtSiDe!!! ThE lIbRuLz SaId OuR wInTeRs WoUlD gEt WaRmEr!!11!!!1!! /s


But, seriously. While Texas has been freezing, the Arctic has been roasting. In fact, this Arctic heat wave is exactly what sent all of that cold air down there. It's called a Greenland Block. This pattern is expected to become more common in a warming world.

[ladyfiaran22]

That is scary with the Arctic heating up, that’s going to raise water levels and cause flooding. I’m concerned about the mess in Texas because my cousin moved there with her family recently since her husband was transferred to the Houston branch of his job and they’re stuck there. We only heard from them yesterday when they got their power back, the kids had to wear three layers of clothes and jackets while huddled under quilts on the bed because of the cold and they could only eat crackers and peanut butter since they couldn’t cook anything. She’s concerned the might get sick from the cold since they’re from Florida and weren’t expecting the storm.

My friend from Texas flew out to Mexico before the storm hit to visit family and she’s stuck there because the flights to Texas are canceled. She’s stranded in Mexico City until the mess gets cleaned up, she’s trying to get in contact with her family since they live in Austin and it’s a mess. So I have personal reasons for being concerned about the storm

[Melinda Halliwell]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and family Vanessa and hope they make it through okay.

[Squad 51]

Yeah, sorry to hear that. Hope they can return home soon. And the weather might clear up. Here it's getting warmer and in the USA colder. Yep, climate change is happening in front of our eyes!

[Tim]

Hope they'll be okay, Vanessa. 

Truth be told, I didn't think it ever got cold in Texas, being that far south.

[Astral Echo]

To be honest, the scenes out of Texas is similar to what we see here in the UK when we get a really bad snow storm, which happens every 5-10 years. Our country just doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with adverse weather and the whole thing grounds to a halt. Schools close, no one can travel for work and public services stop. Ironically, it's no where near as bad Wintery climates yet those countries know how to deal with it.

Arguably, the UK occasionally get it worse than what we're seeing in Texas. The only difference is, our houses aren't made out of paper.

[Tim]

The Rethugs can't laugh climate change off anymore. It's real, it's happening, and this is proof.

What else do we need to convince them.

[Melinda Halliwell]

A knock on the head perhaps? Hee, hee.

[Squad 51]

More than a knock, obviously. Like living on an island or in a country when people are threatened by the climate change already. Yep, it's happening when the spring seems to start now already!!

[Melinda Halliwell]

Hopefully, internet issues are the reason Jean hasn't been here or at the Cafe other than real life perhaps and not bad weather where she lives cutting out power.

Wales has had flooding like parts of the UK when storms hit but nothing said about power cuts and such so fingers crossed Jackie's okay and perhaps has the same issues as Jean maybe.

[Tim]

Texas has had bad winters before.  And each time they were warned to prepare for the next one, but they never did. 

And now we see the results of their failure to heed the past warnings.

[ladyfiaran22]

I hope that now they start preparing, but they have these idiotic politicians who will oppose any prep by saying that’ll cost tax money or that it’s socialist. Prepping for natural disasters is not socialism, it’s common sense. That’s why although Florida is a red state, the state government makes sure there’s preparation for hurricanes each season and quickly orders people to evacuate before landfall. This is why while there’s property damage, few people die since they take hurricane warnings seriously.

[Tim]

Someone tell these a**holes that Mother Nature doesn't subscribe to any political beliefs.