Comments by "Xyz Same" (@xyzsame4081) on "WFAA" channel.

@factitarian This Tx situation was totally avoidable - and it shows one of the problems of Climate Change caused by Global Warming. We build our settlements and grow our food, and built our infrastructure with certain expectations. Temps never lower or higher. A certain amount of rain, snow, .... how bad can storms get. If you have more downpours then you might get mudslides in areas that were thought safe to build. Floodings. Repair costs for streets. Rain on top of snow, sudden melting - floodings Cold snaps ruin the tree blossoms in orchards or seedlings. Avalances. No snow in touristic regions. Draughts, or endless rain. Heat waves. problems to have enough water, wildfires (giving up homes), the heat ruins the tarmac so more repairs. Equipment malfunctions when it is too hot or too cold. (that is the MAIN PROBLEM in TX). We need stability in our civilized life and Climate Change cause they Global Warming is disruptive.
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Robert Bru it contains the body heat to a small enclosed space. Yes that is one of the recomendations. I would stay in bed with all the blankets, curtains !, sheets, towels piled up, 2 layers of garments and wearing a coat or jacket on top, plus 2 pair of socks and a hat. A healthy human can be a few days w/o food. As long as they have got water.
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No information by authorities: What to do about the danger of freezing pipes. leaning on the phone companies to sent out free texts, also encouraging people to save energy with their phones. For heavens sake do not run cars in garages, you will die. Stay in bed, pile on the blankets, wear regular clothes and even jackets and coats in bed (2 layers ! do not forget the hats and 2 pair of socks). Safe ways to heat up things (candles, tea ligths). Heat up pots at the outside or use your BBQ outside - outside is safe and then carry it into the home. Do not use a fire place that has not been used for a long time, you do not know if it is safe.
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Cowardly, big donor serving TX politicians, blaming everyone but themselves * for their brazen disregard of common sense, their criminal negligence, the greedy refusal to LEARN form the past. 1989, 2011 and NOW again. They were WARNED by the federal commission (and their report) in 2011. But unlike in all other states the fes have no authority over TX. TX politicians set up their own independent grid in Texas in order to evade federal regulation. (which also means the providers now cannot buy energy from other states). Even IF they would supply under emergency provisions, it is likely that TX has not invested into importing from other states. There will be some powerlines crossing state's lines but in the large scheme of things they have never planned to import (independent grid to evade regulation) so the infrastructure is not set up to cope with a large influx of energy. Federal regulation would force them to be prepared that every few years cold snap or heat waves that will require more than usual power and put more strain on equipment might happen. So they would need to have reserves (that costs some money, but all would operate under the same conditions, they would just pass on the costs. That does not have to be that much. Arkansas and Mississippi likely do not have a great grid or system but they are under fed regulations, they have the same cold, but cope, and it is not like they would have super high prices for electricity). But Tx politicians wanted super low energy prices for their buddies from big biz, trying to attract industries that use a lot of energy (donors !). Along with very low state income tax - so big biz does not pay at the federal OR the state level. Which also means that TX has less money for INVESTMENTS. (for instance for subsidies for wind and other renewable energy, so they can easily finance the batteries or the de-icing equipment if their rotor blades are hit by freezing rain. With the windchill factor and movement it is even colder and ice can built up. The rotor blades have sensors that warn them if the weight is distributed unevenly, that could ruin the rotor fast. Could be the rotor out of whack or a build up of ice, that is not going to be even. Under federal regulation the providers would also have to ramp up the equipment so that the conditions that trigger much more demand are not also the conditions that make them malfunction just at the time of peak demand. Valves and controls that still work reliably after a longer heat wave for instance.
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The dog ate my homework sounds like a plausible and charming explanation if you have heard the weasels from TX and FOX lying for them. So the reasons for their historic failure (after 1989 and 2011) is: * AOC from New York, the Green New Deal that has not been passed, the wind turbines that are only 13 % of the capacities of ELECTRICITY that have been shut off. Because they too were not mandated to winterize. Neither were nuclear power plants ! or the suppliers of natural gas !
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The fossil fuel industry must have provided the talking points. the wind turbines are only 13 % of the capacities of ELECTRICITY that have been shut off. Because they too were NOT mandated to winterize. Neither were nuclear power plants ! or the suppliers of natural gas (heating and electricity) ! And in their case that is much more consequential Meanwhile at the same time in Canada, Vermont, Michigan, Denmark, Europe in general, China, UK at much lower temps. The small investment into thawing devices that are standard anyway for most wind turbines on the globe (read the components are produced with economy of scale) is not that expensive . One would spread the costs over the full lifetime of the turbine (think at least 15 years) Those little investment (in the grand scheme of things) keep wind turbines operating just fine. Better than fine, they had a blast these last days and could contribute a little more than usual to the mix. They can't help when the powerlines break down in TX and that is even a challenge in nations that do prepare, but else they could have provided very much needed energy. Only a few percent more (as the outsider in the energy mix it does not make much of a dent when weather conditions allow them to supply a lot) but it all helps.
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@gracieg7601 yeah because the Texan republican did deregulation and free market and their own grid - and that works swimmingly (pun intended). They have their own grid, so the federal regulators could not regulate them as long as they do not sell or purchase from other states.
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@gracieg7601 cold snaps and heat waves will become more frequent also in the South - thanks to Global warming. Yes also the cold snaps, check out Polar Vortex and how that comes about.
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@saivarshinichinnasani9466 it is like having fire insurance. many people pay for decades and luckily most never have the case where they have a major ! damage. The case where you really need it, where you do not want to be unprepared. if you cannot risk the worst case scenario - all 10 - 20 years a massive cold snap (and likely more often in the future) - then you have to invest. That must not be that expensive btw. New Mexico, Mississippi and arkansas ALSO have to deal with unsual cold, I do not suspect their grid is great - but it is not like in Texas. Why ? because federal regulation nudged them to at least invest the minimum to stay functional during a once every 10 year event. And I am sure their energy prices are not very high either. TX wanted to spare the industries that use a lot of energy having to pay a little extra in energy prices. (the providers would of course put that cost of being prepared - think of it as insurance - on the energy prices. They went as far as to have their own energy grid (the only of the 50 states). That backfired big time, they cannot even import energy from other states now. The fed commission made a report in 2011 but they could not force TX. All other states have to have reserves for extreme times (heat waves and cold snaps) and their equipment has to be able to withstand longer heat waves or unusual cold. (unusual for that area). So when there will be more demand (not if but when !) they would not malfunction at the worst possible moment. But Texas could evade all of that - with their own grid (which means they cannot supply or buy).
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@daleval2182 I think the governor has to do that. it is not a NATIONAL problem after all (or at least that several states are affected), the neighbour states of TX are doing O.K. Only Texas messed up big time.
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we can safely assume those cold snaps and extreme heat waves will become MORE FREQUENT. If listening to experts on Global Warming. In a weird twist - the Arctic (ocean) being much warmer than it should be (also in winter) weakens air currents higher up in the atmosphere that circle fast around the poles (same situation at both poles). Those currents used to fence off the very cold air and kept it in the polar region. Those air currents are strong and stable if the temperature differences are high between the polar region and the other regions. Sometimes a front of cold air could escape. That was a freak event. Rarely in the Arctic and unheard of in the Antarctic. NOW they become more frequent (even a very few coming from the Antarctic). Polar Vortex. Sometimes now there is a BULGE in the circle were a cold front can advance into unusual territory. This cold snap was worse, a much larger front, it was ready to move - and in North America there is not much in the way (not many mountain ranges like in Europe). It can travel fast and far. Rememer 2 or 3 years ago when for one or two days FLORIDA was colder than some areas of the Arctic ? In WINTER (around freezing point + 32 degree F resp. 0 degree Celsius). The Arctic should have - 22 degree F = - 30 degree C in winter. The cold air stayed at the poles in the past, especially in winter, when the more pronounced temp differences stabilized the air currents higher up - when cold fronts can escape now more often they will create storms, unusual precipitation (like snow and ice rain in Texas), the cold air meets much warmer fronts that contain much more moisture that will fall out, rain, freezing rain, hail, snow. Global warming does not mean that there will not be any cold regions, seasons or snow. (more humidity in the air from globally ! higher temps helps with snow and it does not have to be super cold to snow). GW means the AVERAGE GLOBAL annual temperature will be higher, there is more energy and heat in the system and also in the atmosphere. The North or South pole do not have sunshine for a long time, it is not going to be cozy even while they "warm" up. 32 degree F is a heat wave in the Antarctic during the height of summer.
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@philsmidwestclassiccars150 you haven't been paying attention in 1989 and 2011 then ! Or paid attention when Florida was colder than the Actic not long ago. In Winter ! (see my post regarindg GW). I noticed, I knew what that meant (I do not work in the field) but that was a major red flag. Looks like the TX politicians didn't pay any attention, were willfully ignorant, or just do not care. They could have asked people that do research on Climate change. IF they wanted to be prepared and SERVE The People of Texas.
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You cannot be self reliant in an economy / society like ours. O.K. a few can live "off the grid". Not really they still have MASS PRODUCED cars, phones, modern products, modern medicine.
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they had such a cold snap in 1989 and again in 2011. Refused to learn form it and invest a little bit to remain functional. It is not even that cold anymore. Nuclear power plants had instruments that did not function under the unsually cold condition. maybe you have no sense about security for that industry. That is even more outrageous than the pipelines not in the frost free zone. It is unconceiveable to pinch pennies in an opeation where they must aim to have high quality robust components in ALL areas. There is no harmless electric installation or plumbing situation when it comes to nuclear power plants. Such a thing does not exist. They had to take nucelar power plants off the grid because of instruments malfunctioning because of the cold (even if those instruments do not directly control nuclear fission, that would be indoors and VERY high standards. the instruments may have a more "normal" and humble job. Something to do with outdoors - getting the cooling water from a river for instance. But that being cut off could cause a meltdown - they MUST be able to cool at all times and even 24 hours or more after a shutdown. And the security standards were at least followed with taking them off the grid. The question is: it happened in 1989, in 2011, one would the management of a nuclear power plant to err very much at the side of caution. To get the winterized equipment, no matter what regulators demand. Considering the full costs of the operation and the life cycle - that can't have been a relevant cost. If there is so much as a hint of technology not working, they have to shut down the whole operation. That meant that large providers (or at least one) dropped out. Providers that usually can double normal output if that is needed. Such plants normally do not run under full capacity.
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that - or the dog ate their homework.
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The population is not to blame BUT the politicians ignored the obvious. Last cold snaps 1989, and 2011, they doubled down on avoiding all investement and deregulation. Went as far as having their own grid (the only state in the U.S.) so that the fed regulators could not force them to invest more into preparedness for extreme events (and in the future the heat waves and cold snaps with hit more often). Houston does not vote for the Repubs. The rural areas might be better off, they have often a wood stove. The space for a generator. Those are the folks that help the utterly corrupt Tx Republicans get elected.
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@mikesmith-wk7vy nuclear power plants, coal plants have unrealiable instruments. Shut down. (would not have cost that much more to have the cold proof version). The natural gas pipelines are not deep in the ground, not in the frost free zone. Their valves and controls do not work. Shutdown. No gas goes to the homes and also not to the power plants to produce electricty. They all were NOT forced to winterize. Nor were the wind turbines, their share of electricity - that was shut down - is 13 %. But the much larger problem is no natural gas for heating, water pipes bursting, so even after the temps go up they cannot give people water because now it may not be safe. People may freeze to death.
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@mikesmith-wk7vy so the wind turbines are obviously not the problem. Last cold snaps with severe problems 1989 and then 2011. TX Repubs doubled down on DEREGULATION. No store of natural gas. (being prepared costs money). TX has their own grid they cannot sell or purchase electricity to from other states. The ONLY state in the U.S. that did it - to avoid common sense regulation. Not sure what they do with natural gas. The reason for their own grid ? Fed. regulators cannot force them to invest into preparedness. In 2011 they got a report and were advised to WINTERIZE the system, but since they do not share the grid with other states they cannot be forced to comply with the minimum standards. Like to be prepared for heat waves or cold snaps.
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@mikesmith-wk7vy The gov. and the Trump Energy Secretary and former gov. do a "The dog ate my homework" act, and it is everybody's fault but theirs (they have doubled down on their strategy after 2011). Meanwhile Ted Cruz flew to Mexico.
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@mikesmith-wk7vy you had the free market and deregulation in Texas, how is that working for TX.
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@mikesmith-wk7vy Mississippi and Arkansas and New Mexico have the same cold conditions. BUT they stayed part of the grid they invested at least the MINIMUM to cope with an once in 10 year event, so they do not have nearly as many problems. No electricity ? Or REAL rolling blackouts ? They can run the furnaces at least sometimes. They also have more natural gas, at least the people can heat their homes or keep them and the pipes from freezing.
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There are not "rolling" shutoffs. Some areas are more equal than others. Some never lost electricity and some did not have any since Sunday.
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Yeah, that is going to work fine in cities like Houston. - the alternative would be to have reasonable government doing its job. Arranging for the stuff that is hard to arrange for on an indivdual base. Like power, food, water, heat, infrastructure in densely populated areas. Building codes that demand insulation (then they would not have the intense cold IN the buildings even w/o heating for a few days, and no problem with pipes bursting). Insulation would also help against the heat in summer. Somehow they manage in Canada, in Germany, in Vermont, or even effing Florida can be bothered to WARN the citizens when they get hit by a bad weather front. Tx Republicans and the local rightwing TV networks do not believe in Climate Change. But they do not even believe in the weather forcast that would tell them a massive polar front is on its way. It is big and it will last for longer.
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The government of Texas also allowed not winterized infrastructure for natural gas. So many households that heat with gas were shut off, the valves, controls, pump stations did not function. And power plants running on gas were out, too. - Same for coal plants, oil wells and effing nuclear power plants that had instruments, valves, controls, components that did not work because of the cold and the whole plant had to be shut down. it was not only power lines and this was NOT a hurricane (which at least means that people do not freeze to death, if the house is still standing they will not have pipes bursting later, and can leave the area as soon as the storm is over). The most important power lines for the large cities could have been fixed within a day, they do that just fine in other nations and states. Then people would have had some electricity and their furnaces could work some of the time (if they really do "rolling" blackouts and not only use the term to gloss over the fact that some areas always had power and some haven't had it for days. Citizens could then prepare simple but hot meals and hot beverages. Charge phones etc.
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Even in Florida they tell them how to prepare for hurricanes. I think texts would be most effective. People can listen to the radio in the car but they should spare the car battery and save gas. Most do not have power for TV, or radio IN the home.
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@gracieg7601 maybe it has not been quite as bad, but they had gotten a warning shot in 1989 and 2011, the fed report of 2011 was of course also ignored by the Republican morons of Texas.
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the economic system drives people into the cities. Building code allows for flimsy homes, no insulation (would also help against the heat), and the pipes are outside. in a rental you have no influence over heating, you cannot install solar panels. You cannot have a chimeny and a wood stove (would not work in the city anyway, it would be pollution all over the place). food, propane cooker - but people live in small apartments the camping gear also needs space.
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@mgtowmonger2729 ? Did Dems vote for deregulation and TX having its own grid (to evade federal regulation that would have forced them to invest more and be prepared) in the state legislature ? The Repubs have run the show forever in TX - that is on them.
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@mgtowmonger2729 Repubs also run and staff the relevant boards in TX that have a say. The Secetary of energy in the Trump cabinet Rick Perry. Govenor till 2015.
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@factitarian yes - the too warm Arctic (ocean) undermines the aircurrents high up that circel the poles (the same in Antarctica) that used to fence in cold polar air. Not so reliably anymore. It sounds like a paradox but Global Warming will mean MORE cold snaps.
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@factitarian Global Warming means the average, global temperature getting higher. No one said it was not going to be cold / cool in certain areas or saisons or there would be no snow. The average temp of Texas will not be higher because of this crazy week, hardly noticeable. And the effect can be easily undone be the next heatwave lasting longer than a month or two. You can end up with a record year for TX nontheless (warm). And double damage. Not that the regional average should get too much attention, but even in TX 2021 could become a HOT year despite this rotten Feb. experience. The higher average means more energy in the global system and that means disruption.
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