Texas Members - How can we help?

[Sue (Ayt)]

Been reading many crazy reports coming out of Texas.
Power grid down, record cold, water service stopped...
People are in trouble there from the crazy Polar Vortex this week!

Hope we can help where needed, by sharing tips, news, and links here.

4B4Z3MvIt_0

[Ivanhoe]

We got hit pretty bad here in Bossier City, La. too.
The south's just not prepared for this kinda stuff.
4" plus freezing rain on the roads and no snowplows or salt.
Everything is at a standstill.
Even my hot water pipes froze, but luckily I got the water running through them again (don't ask me how, I figure it was the grace of God), but now my drain on the kitchen is frozen and backing up water through the sink so we can't use that, backed up into the washer drain pipe in the utility room but luckily I caught it before it got too bad, just a lot of mopping up to do.
Rolling blackouts I've heard, though we haven't experienced that where I live.
I'm running water every 2-3 hours just to keep the pipes from freezing.

[EFO]

Been reading many crazy reports coming out of Texas.
Power grid down, record cold, water service stopped...
People are in trouble there from the crazy Polar Vortex this week!

Hope we can help where needed, by sharing tips, news, and links here.

You can do more than that,by creating a nationwide network based on volunteer local community from which every one can send and receive stuff (letters,small packages) for those in need and not only.

The system is or will collapse sooner or later and to avoid the following disturbances we,the people,have to be prepared and prevent them,by creating our new society and networks.

Be a real volunteer and don't expect for instant reward...this will come later when all networks will be settle on healthy grounds and and in the final ALL people will be rewarded.I could guide if necessary.It could be a little hard in the beginning,but not necessarily.Ask your family members,friends and anyone who you trust if they are interested in your local endeavor to help others and be helped by others.

Create your own self-help system and let's stop relaying on the official one.:thumbsup:

Think of it or (re)watch the movie "The Postman" with Kevin Costner.

[Bubu]

We got hit pretty bad here in Bossier City, La. too.
The south's just not prepared for this kinda stuff.
4" plus freezing rain on the roads and no snowplows or salt.
Everything is at a standstill.
Even my hot water pipes froze, but luckily I got the water running through them again (don't ask me how, I figure it was the grace of God), but now my drain on the kitchen is frozen and backing up water through the sink so we can't use that, backed up into the washer drain pipe in the utility room but luckily I caught it before it got too bad, just a lot of mopping up to do.
Rolling blackouts I've heard, though we haven't experienced that where I live.
I'm running water every 2-3 hours just to keep the pipes from freezing.

add some salt in the water and pour, dont wait for salt to melt so there is some salt granules in there.

[Bill Ryan]

We have a number of members (and mods!) who are having to improvise right now in tough conditions in which a long night or day without heat, power and/or water can be very worrying and energy-sapping, sometimes with no information or apparent end in sight. Melting snow for water, working hard to keep warm in subzero temperatures, keeping animals alive, charging devices from vehicles, and so on.

Water and heat are always the critical things. You don't know what you've got till it's gone! Many of the learning points from all this are obvious (especially in the light of a few tough days of unpleasant experience), but we have several threads about prepping and taking care of oneself when the grid goes down.

A few points to think about, maybe:

— Never think this can't happen to you!
— Never think it can't happen again to you.
— The weather could do anything at all, almost anywhere in the world.
— Power and water can go down anywhere, as well.
— A few truly inexpensive things can make a lot of difference, for anyone:


Even a small water filter can make a critical difference. We have a good thread all about them (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?101873-Portable-Water-Filters-and-Purifiers-for-Travel-and-Adventure). (Also search for "filter" and "filters" in thread titles. There are quite a few results.)
Reflective 'space blankets' for lightweight, cheap insulation. They really cost very little, and aren't just for hiking survival. (Click here to see a bunch of them (https://www.amazon.com/space-blanket/s?k=space+blanket).) They can keep animals alive, too. And have one in your vehicle in winter, always.
Candles and matches. Lots of them!
Iodine drops for purifying water. Any regular iodine is fine, and costs very little.
If you're dependent on electricity for heat, have a gas-bottle heater backup if you can afford one. Even if you have to huddle together in one small room. (Small rooms are better to keep warm in!)
And with that same gas bottle, there are many cheap Coleman-style camping stoves to heat food or boil water. Some of your food supplies you can eat without cooking, but probably not everything. And hot food and drink makes a huge difference to morale.
Wet shoes and socks are a danger if you don't have heat to dry them. A zero-cost remedy is to use regular plastic shopping bags over socks, inside shoes. This really works. The socks will get a little damp from sweat, but the warmth is surprising. And it doesn't matter how wet your shoes are.

Some of this is obvious, and I'm truly not preaching to the converted! But even if you think this surely can't happen to you, an 'insurance' outlay of just a few $$, €€ or ££ really can make all the difference if there are one or two simple things you possibly might not have thought of.

:flower:

[Ricker]

I think Bill makes a valid point. Preparedness is the key. I take a " Plan for the worse. Hope for the best" approach. In the northeast we see a lot of adverse weather. I see 1 in 3 houses in my area removing the chimney from their houses. :-O I have a decent forced air furnace in my home. I also have a fireplace that we do not use. However I keep it maintained and cut firewood every year.

[pabranno]

I just want to thank you all for the thoughts. The consideration and kindness of just reaching out is very ‘warming’. Really.
Avalon at its finest! Thank you Sue, and all.

Pamela in Dallas

[Billy]

Sorry to hear that many are suffering from extremely cold weather and power cuts in Texas and other places.
Scotland has also had its fair share of minus 23c this last few weeks. Luckily the temperature now has now risen to 7c.
I live in a caravan and am now completely off grid. We had a power outage a week ago in my area but I had no idea the the power was down as I now own a solar generator. After years relying on a small petrol generator for power to charge all my devices. Purchasing the solar generator last December has been a very positive life changer for me.
I understand that not everyone is in a position financially to afford a solar generator as a backup but I would recommend working towards buying one in the future.

I pledged £490 for my Ecoflow R600 pro generator on Kickstarter last summer. Plus a 120w folding solar panel. It took a few months for the production to be completed, the generator arrived a week before Christmas.

There are various ways to charge the generator, solar panels, from a 12v car lighter, AC mains, or I can charge it from my petrol generator, 0-80% in one hour. I have used it every evening for 5 or 6 hours since it was delivered. Depending on what I am using it for, one full charge can last me 4 evenings. All my devices are rechargeable. My phone, tablet, hoover, radio, fan, Bluetooth speakers, modem, ect. I can watch videos on my tablet every evening if I wish.

https://ecoflow.com/?aff=62&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvbiBBhD-ARIsAGM48bzgLRHlZMhgIFwnLb94YY-M2WDhTTrrUk6BiO5SGk5R7sfIT4gw2McaAlOnEALw_wcB

The Ecoflow Delta 1260WH has been on the market for a few years now, tried and tested if you need more power. But it cost $1399.
My R600 pro is 600w output. That is all I need to survive.
There are many other different makes available. But I only know Ecoflow.
The River pro is completely different from the Ecoflow R600 pro. Different battery technology.
The River only has 800 charging recycles where my Pro has 3500 charging recycles.

This is my baby with solar panels.
46121. 46122

Other advice.
If you take the stainless steel drum from an old washing machine, it makes a great outside fire.
46123

My cooker is powered by calor gas bottles, as is my small fridge.

I have a woodburning stove with an oven on top.
46124

If you only need to have a backup for rechargeable devices. You can purchase a Jackery power station for as little as $200
https://www.jackery.com/pages/portable-power-stations

Just as an example. This Elec hive 2200w generator is on Indiegogo at this moment for $1199 for pledging, not available till April 2021. Then cost will rise to $1500 retail.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elechive-portable-universal-super-power-station?secret_perk_token=3cd02f76&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=1199&fbclid=IwAR0qwDiP95xSXWP47434Rynl10D_rZxjM89C9M9MoO43wkR59H8S11caZF0#/

46125

Just some ideas to think about :bearhug:

[Gwin Ru]

...

How to survive power outages during extreme cold (https://www.iceagenow.info/how-to-survive-power-outages-during-extreme-cold/)

by Robert (https://www.iceagenow.info/author/xilef/)
February 17, 2021
“These tips are based on my growing up in New England and also having lived in Maine and Utah, and having experienced multiple days of power outages in extreme cold.”
– Jean S.
_______________

How to survive power outages during extreme cold

Jean S.

These are my tips for people in TX and other places where they don’t normally have power outages in extremely cold weather and no experience with that and may not know what to do.

These tips are based on my growing up in New England and also having lived in Maine and Utah, and having experienced multiple days of power outages in extreme cold. A number of houses I lived in either were poorly insulated and, in some cases, not all parts of the house had heat.
1. Check to see if any of your doors have a space at the bottom where cold air is coming in. If so, take a towel and roll it up lengthwise and put it on the floor pushing it against the door.

2. Check to see if you get drafts from any of your windows. If so, take some old papers (newspaper, junk mail, etc.) fold them up and stuff the cracks with paper. If you have no paper but have rags that will work also.

3. If you have a generator be sure to read and follow all requirements for ventilation – you can get killed otherwise. Do NOT use anything like a grill indoors. Go outside if you must and use it out there in a sheltered area for cooking.

4. Let all your faucets drip a bit to try to avoid having your pipes burst. If you have any hay bails you can also put these around the bottom of your house.

5. Consider closing up part of your house and only use a few rooms (preferably interior rooms or those with the fewest windows, since you lose a lot of heat from the windows).

6. Sometimes if you have natural gas you can still get hot water and your stove and oven may work even when the power is out. If that is the case do the following:
a. Take a hot bath daily, before bundling up for bed. This will keep your core warmer. (Notice that she says IF you have natural gas. I don’t.)

b. Make hot meals like soup and drink hot drinks. (Hard to do without natural gas.)

c. Avoid alcohol if at all possible as that may make you feel like you are warmer but actually makes your core colder.

d. Washing your dishes by hand is good to warm up your hands.

e. Consider making something like Boston baked beans from scratch at night. They need to cook in the oven at low heat (250-300 degrees) for 8 hours and not only taste good… they warm up the house a bit and smell heavenly! ((Again, hard to do without natural gas.)
7. Get out all your winter clothing items and layer up. Wear a hat and shoes or boots even if you normally go barefoot as you lose a lot of heat from your head and extremities. Wear multiple pairs of socks to bed and multiple pairs of sleepwear. You can wear a winter coat indoors during the day or spread it out on your bed for extra warmth at night.

8. If you have any sleeping bags crawl into one at night in your bed, covered by your other bedding.

9. Cover your head at night (best if you leave a bit of a breathing hole but you’ll still keep warmer than keeping your whole head out).

10. If anyone in your household sews, check their fabric stash for large pieces of polartec/fleece (the absolute best at keeping your warm), wool, or unused quilt inserts to use as extra blankets.

11. If you have multiple people in your family…. skip the social distance idea (unless someone actually is sick), and consider bundling up together at night. Warning: don’t do that with a baby though as some people have accidentally rolled over on their baby and suffocated them. Babies do well however in a sleeping bag by themselves or something similar (I had my son sleeping in an old fur coat I got at a thrift store when we were living in a tent.)

12. Got a dog? Let him/her come sleep with you in your bed… even if you don’t normally.

13. If you have young kids, try to make a game out of it… pretend you are camping indoors, or are pioneers, cowboys, or Indians. If you know your local history it may give you other ideas how to keep warm. Remember people lived without central heat for generations and most did not freeze to death in their house. For example, I once visited Plymouth Plantations (in MA) on a very cold raw day – noticed that the Pilgrims houses were all cold and uncomfortable despite having large fireplaces. Outside the walled town there was a reproduction Massasoit Indian village complete with long house… and they were having story telling there. It was toasty, comfortable and warm. They only had a small hole in the roof for opening for smoke from the fire and one door with a deerskin flap they closed. Multiple families lived together that way and slept on wood platforms with furs, so they were off the floor. It was a LOT more comfortable that the housing the Pilgrims lived in!

[Sue (Ayt)]

This link tells about the situation going on in the US with this "Polar Vortex" now. There is a news video there, too:
https://weather.com/news/news/2021-02-18-winter-storm-water-outages-power-outages-ice-snow-south

[Bill Ryan]

Mike Adams, who lives near Austin, reported on the situation on Tuesday, two days ago. His MP3 is 30 mins long, and he was able to upload it yesterday. He describes his own experience and (to his credit!) shares some of the prepping mistakes he realized he made.


https://naturalnews.com/hrr/mp3/HRR-2021-02-18-Situation-Update.mp3

[Bill Ryan]

A shout-out to (or for!) Karen (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/member.php?46234-Karen--Geophyz-) (Geophyz), who lives in central Texas but has been battling the elements like she's in Alaska, or maybe Antarctica. The mods are keeping in close touch with her, and she's doing okay.

In the middle of a continual power outage caused by felled poles, she reported she was very cold, was out of firewood and candles, and that the oil in her lamp had frozen, which she hadn't thought possible. (Jeez! :facepalm: )

Her cell tower had fallen, and so had a bunch of trees over her driveway that she said she hadn't the energy yet to clear with a chainsaw.

She was very worried about her beloved 40 (forty!!) year old horse, but then went out into the snow to search for her milking cow so she could bring them together into the same stall and then tarp it down tight against the weather. Before she found her cow, she came across a shivering abandoned dog looking for help, which she rescued. (So now she has two dogs. :sun: )

She took some food to her neighbor yesterday, who needed it, and the last we heard she was wrapped up in multiple layers to venture out in her gator (a 3-wheel all-terrain thing) to get some wood from another neighbor.

We've not yet heard back from her after this latest trip, but she's pretty resilient — as readers may have already gathered. :) Tonight will dip down to 15ºF (-10ºC) but after that it should start to warm up again the next few days. We're telling her, just one more cold night to hang in there with all her animals.

:flower:

[s7e6e]

The weather is all over the place everywhere. We had 2C nights down here in South Australia in the middle of the summer when it should've been 30C during the night and 45C during the day. Coldest summer I can remember, but they all calling it "global warming".

I'm so sorry for all the folks up in Texas having it rough at the moment. Hang in there!

[Bill Ryan]

A sobering article from Michael Snyder at the Economic Collapse Blog, published yesterday.

I can't say if the headline is accurate, but there were a few awful personal tragedies that occurred that should surely never have happened. And it seems that things nearly went very bad indeed.


http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/the-temporary-collapse-of-texas-is-foreshadowing-the-total-collapse-of-the-united-states

The Temporary Collapse of Texas is Foreshadowing the Total Collapse of the United States

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/America-On-A-Globe-Pixabay-560x371.jpg (http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/the-temporary-collapse-of-texas-is-foreshadowing-the-total-collapse-of-the-united-states/america-on-a-globe-pixabay/#main)

We are getting a very short preview of what will eventually happen to the United States as a whole. America’s infrastructure is aging and crumbling. Our power grids were never intended to support so many people, our water systems are a complete joke, and it has become utterly apparent that we would be completely lost if a major long-term national emergency ever struck.

Texas has immense wealth and vast energy resources, but now it is being called a “failed state”. If it can’t even handle a few days of cold weather, what is the rest of America going to look like when things really start to get chaotic in this country?

At this point, it has become clear that the power grid in Texas is in far worse shape than anyone ever imagined. When extremely cold weather hit the state, demand for energy surged dramatically. At the same time, about half of the wind turbines that Texas relies upon froze, and the rest of the system simply could not handle the massive increase in demand.

Millions of Texans were without power for days, and hundreds of thousands are still without power as I write this article.

And now we are learning that Texas was literally just moments away from “a catastrophic failure” that could have resulted in blackouts “for months” (https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-ercot/)…

Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday.
As millions of customers throughout the state begin to have power restored after days of massive blackouts, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the power grid that covers most of the state, said Texas was dangerously close to a worst-case scenario: uncontrolled blackouts across the state.
I can’t even imagine how nightmarish things would have eventually gotten in Texas if there had actually been blackouts for months.

According to one expert, the state really was right on the verge of a “worst case scenario” (https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-ercot/)…

The worst case scenario: Demand for power outstrips the supply of power generation available on the grid, causing equipment to catch fire, substations to blow and power lines to go down.
If the grid had gone totally offline, the physical damage to power infrastructure from overwhelming the grid could have taken months to repair, said Bernadette Johnson, senior vice president of power and renewables at Enverus, an oil and gas software and information company headquartered in Austin.
For years, I have been telling my readers that they have got to have a back up plan for power, because during a major emergency the grid can fail.

And when it fails, it can literally cost some people their lives. I was deeply saddened when I learned that one man in Texas actually froze to death sitting in his own recliner (https://www.fox5ny.com/news/texas-man-reportedly-freezes-to-death-in-his-recliner)…

As Texas suffered through days of power outages, a man reportedly froze to death in his recliner with his wife clinging to life beside him.
The man was found dead in his Abilene home on Wednesday after being without power for several days in the record cold.
Most Americans don’t realize that much of the rest of the world actually has much better power infrastructure than we do. Just check out these numbers (https://www.revolver.news/2021/02/texass-power-grid-disaster-is-only-the-beginning/)…

In Japan, the average home sees only 4 minutes of power outages (https://www.ibtimes.com/aging-us-power-grid-blacks-out-more-any-other-developed-nation-1631086) per year. In the American Midwest, the figure is 92 minutes per year. In the Northeast, it’s 214 minutes; all those figures cover only regular outages and not those caused by extreme weather or fires.
As our population has grown and our infrastructure has aged, performance has just gotten worse and worse. In fact, things ran much more smoothly all the way back in the mid-1980s (https://www.revolver.news/2021/02/texass-power-grid-disaster-is-only-the-beginning/)…

According to an analysis by Climate Central, major outages (affecting more than 50,000 homes or businesses) grew ten times more common from the mid-1980s to 2012. From 2003 to 2012, weather-related outages doubled. In a 2017 report, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported that there were 3,571 total outages in 2015, lasting 49 minutes on average. The U.S. Energy Administration reports that in 2016, the average utility customer had 1.3 power interruptions, and their total blackout time averaged four hours.
America is literally crumbling all around us, and it getting worse with each passing year.

Our water systems are another example.

In Texas, the cold weather literally caused thousands of pipes to burst. The damage caused by all of these ruined pipes is going to be in the billions of dollars.

Right now, we are being told that a total of 797 water systems in the state are currently reporting problems with “frozen or broken pipes” (https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/weather/texas-winter-storm-thursday/index.html)…

Some 13.5 million people are facing water disruptions with 797 water systems throughout the state reporting issues such as frozen or broken pipes, according to Toby Baker, executive director for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. About 725 systems are under a boil water advisory, Baker said during a press conference Thursday.
Overall, approximately 7 million residents of the state live in areas that have been ordered to boil water, and it could take months for service to fully return to normal.
Without water, none of us can survive for long, and it is absolutely imperative that you have a back up plan in case your local system goes down.

In Houston, people that are without water in their homes have been forced to line up to fill buckets at a public spigot (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9274901/Texas-stores-run-food-7-million-boil-water-orders-500-000-without-power.html)…

Meanwhile, in scenes reminiscent of a third world country, Houston residents resorted to filling up buckets of water from a spigot in a local neighborhood.
One Houston resident, whose power has just gone back on Thursday after three days but still has no water, told DailyMail.com: ‘It is crazy that we just watched NASA land on Mars but here in Houston most of us still don’t have drinking water.’
You can watch video of this happening right here (http://themostimportantnews.com/this-is-not-a-third-world-country-this-is-houston-texas/). Of course if your local water system completely fails, there won’t even be a public spigot available for you to get water.
Shortages of food and other essential supplies are also being reported in Texas.

For Philip Shelley and his young wife, the situation became quite desperate fairly rapidly (https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/weather/texas-winter-storm-thursday/index.html)…

Philip Shelley, a resident of Fort Worth, told CNN that he, his wife Amber and 11-month-old daughter, Ava, were struggling to stay warm and fed. Amber is pregnant and due April 4.
“(Ava) is down to half a can of formula,” Shelley said. “Stores are out if not extremely low on food. Most of our food in the refrigerator is spoiled. Freezer food is close to thawed but we have no way to heat it up.”
So what would they have done if the blackouts had lasted for months?

All over the state, extremely long lines have been forming at local supermarkets. In some cases, people have started waiting way before the stores actually open (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/18/texas-ice-storm-power-outage-food-water/4497383001/)…

Joe Giovannoli, 29, arrived at a Central Market supermarket in Austin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, an hour-and-a-half before it opened. Minutes later, more than 200 people had lined up behind him in the biting 26-degree weather.
Giovannoli’s wife is three months pregnant and the power in their one-bedroom Austin apartment blinked out Tuesday night. After a water pipe broke, firefighters also turned off the building’s water, he said. Giovannoli said he realized he still had it better than many others across Texas, but worried how long things will take to get back to normal.
This is happening in communities across Texas, and you can see video of one of these “bread lines” right here (http://themostimportantnews.com/bread-lines-in-austin-texas-only-15-items-per-person/).

Of course those that had gotten prepared in advance did not have to wait in such long lines because they already had food.

Sadly, even though Joe Giovannoli had gotten to the supermarket so early, he later received really bad news (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/18/texas-ice-storm-power-outage-food-water/4497383001/)…

A few minutes before the store opened its doors, a manager stepped outside and warned those waiting in line that supplies inside were low: No produce, no baked goods, not much canned food.
“We haven’t had a delivery in four days,” he said.
Remember, this is just a temporary crisis in Texas that is only going to last for a few days.

So what would happen if a severe long-term national emergency (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DJ6Y81Q) disrupted food, water and power systems for months on end?

All it took to cause a short-term “collapse scenario” in the state of Texas was some cold weather.

Eventually, much worse things will happen to our nation, and it has become clear that we are not ready.

So get prepared while you still can, because time is running out.

[raregem]

I live in Austin and have had no power for at least 3 days. I am not home so I do not know if the power has returned. I was so surprised the power did not restore within hours much less days.
To see it snowing for several days (about 5 inches at one point) was surreal. One family member has had power and low water pressure the entire time so I am staying at family's home. The internet has been difficult to access so I am making this a short note. Day 5 (today) has a warmer day at a 37 degrees high and getting warmer through the week. There are places for people to go to get warm but the roads are unsafe to drive. The stores are still filled with long lines. I think we are going to be better here soon and recover from the surprise of something we have never experienced. Hurricanes or tornadoes -sure but, not this.
I no longer know how to find a true source of HAARP mapping. I would like to know if this weather was a HAARP creation or not ? Would anyone care to answer this question for me along with a map or pictures of mapping if, available? Thank you very much. Everyone have a warm, safe and caring day. :-)

[Bill Ryan]

A graphic and very interesting account of how Mike Adams saved his dog, which had fallen through the ice into his pond at midnight Wednesday night. Recommended.


https://naturalnews.com/hrr/mp3/HRR-2021-02-19-Dog%20Ice%20Disaster.mp3

[s7e6e]

It's best to ease the mind into horrific scenarios one drop at the time.

"Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday. As millions of customers throughout the state begin to have power restored after days of massive blackouts, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the power grid that covers most of the state, said Texas was dangerously close to a worst-case scenario: uncontrolled blackouts across the state."

This text is not meant for average Joe, it is meant for people in the know and translates into: catastrophic failures and uncontrolled blackouts that will leave the state of Texas in the dark for months are scheduled in the near future.

Store Vid C, Vit D, lots of water, rice and canned food and buy layered clothing then go to a mountain gear shop and buy everything you need for camping. In cold winters, camping inside a house will save your life and can lift the kids spirits as well. You can be really prepped for 7 days with just $500 if you spend it well.

[Mashika]

It's best to ease the mind into horrific scenarios one drop at the time.

"Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday. As millions of customers throughout the state begin to have power restored after days of massive blackouts, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the power grid that covers most of the state, said Texas was dangerously close to a worst-case scenario: uncontrolled blackouts across the state."

This text is not meant for average Joe, it is meant for people in the know and translates into: catastrophic failures and uncontrolled blackouts that will leave the state of Texas in the dark for months are scheduled in the near future.

Store Vid C, Vit D, lots of water, rice and canned food and buy layered clothing then go to a mountain gear shop and buy everything you need for camping. In cold winters, camping inside a house will save your life and can lift the kids spirits as well. You can be really prepped for 7 days with just $500 if you spend it well.

Texas should ask the Russian government to send a few people to teach them how to handle this situation...

I mean Russia has been handling this for thousands of years, it's time to share and people should stop playing around the issue, people are dying. Ask for the help! It's what i would ask for the Texas government, don't let dumb pride get in the way of people's health and life

Think about it, how can Babushka raise children in Syberia for a thousand years and get along with the cold out there, and yet in Texas people are dying, pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

And there are other countries that could also help with systems they have used for hundreds of years to fix this problem, yet we don't hear anything about it! Rather see people die than say "i don't know how to fix this, please help" ?

:frusty:

[Anka]

A shout-out to (or for!) Karen (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/member.php?46234-Karen--Geophyz-) (Geophyz), who lives in central Texas but has been battling the elements like she's in Alaska, or maybe Antarctica. The mods are keeping in close touch with her, and she's doing okay.

In the middle of a continual power outage caused by felled poles, she reported she was very cold, was out of firewood and candles, and that the oil in her lamp had frozen, which she hadn't thought possible. (Jeez! :facepalm: )

Her cell tower had fallen, and so had a bunch of trees over her driveway that she said she hadn't the energy yet to clear with a chainsaw.

She was very worried about her beloved 40 (forty!!) year old horse, but then went out into the snow to search for her milking cow so she could bring them together into the same stall and then tarp it down tight against the weather. Before she found her cow, she came across a shivering abandoned dog looking for help, which she rescued. (So now she has two dogs. :sun: )

She took some food to her neighbor yesterday, who needed it, and the last we heard she was wrapped up in multiple layers to venture out in her gator (a 3-wheel all-terrain thing) to get some wood from another neighbor.

We've not yet heard back from her after this latest trip, but she's pretty resilient — as readers may have already gathered. :) Tonight will dip down to 15ºF (-10ºC) but after that it should start to warm up again the next few days. We're telling her, just one more cold night to hang in there with all her animals.

:flower:

Is Karen (Geophyz) ok? Knowing that she is resilient, I have the best thoughts about how brave she can be! I want to know if she, her neighbors and her animals were okay.If you have any news, please let me know.:heart:

Love,
Anca

[Sue (Ayt)]

Yes! Karen has contacted us that she is OK, just has limited/intermittent cell service at the moment.
But she was able to get to a neighbor's house a mile away and get some wood. And her animals are OK too!
She wrote that she has plenty of food and water.
(But she likely has lots of clean-up ahead now that it is warming up. Many trees were downed on her property, it sounds like.)
:happythumbsup:

[Bill Ryan]

A shout-out to (or for!) Karen (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/member.php?46234-Karen--Geophyz-) (Geophyz), who lives in central Texas but has been battling the elements like she's in Alaska, or maybe Antarctica. The mods are keeping in close touch with her, and she's doing okay.

In the middle of a continual power outage caused by felled poles, she reported she was very cold, was out of firewood and candles, and that the oil in her lamp had frozen, which she hadn't thought possible. (Jeez! :facepalm: )

Her cell tower had fallen, and so had a bunch of trees over her driveway that she said she hadn't the energy yet to clear with a chainsaw.

She was very worried about her beloved 40 (forty!!) year old horse, but then went out into the snow to search for her milking cow so she could bring them together into the same stall and then tarp it down tight against the weather. Before she found her cow, she came across a shivering abandoned dog looking for help, which she rescued. (So now she has two dogs. :sun: )

She took some food to her neighbor yesterday, who needed it, and the last we heard she was wrapped up in multiple layers to venture out in her gator (a 3-wheel all-terrain thing) to get some wood from another neighbor.

We've not yet heard back from her after this latest trip, but she's pretty resilient — as readers may have already gathered. :) Tonight will dip down to 15ºF (-10ºC) but after that it should start to warm up again the next few days. We're telling her, just one more cold night to hang in there with all her animals.

:flower:

Is Karen (Geophyz) ok? Knowing that she is resilient, I have the best thoughts about how brave she can be! I want to know if she, her neighbors and her animals were okay.If you have any news, please let me know.:heart:

Love,
AncaYes, many thanks! She's okay and doing well. :muscle: We eventually heard from her yesterday afternoon after a long silence because she had no cell signal. And her animals are all in good shape too, including her remarkable 40-year old horse which she'd been very worried about.

The weather is now gradually getting warmer, so it seems the worst may be over. But, after over a week, with Texas slowly getting back online, she still has no power and her local area be one of the very last to be reconnected.

[Anka]

Yes! Karen has contacted us that she is OK, just has limited/intermittent cell service at the moment.
But she was able to get to a neighbor's house a mile away and get some wood. And her animals are OK too!
She wrote that she has plenty of food and water.
(But she likely has lots of clean-up ahead now that it is warming up. Many trees were downed on her property, it sounds like.)
:happythumbsup:

Thanks for the reply! I know Karen can do the impossible. I'm glad she and the animals are fine, and I'm convinced she'll be able to overcome everything she has to do. I know what it means to cut down trees from cold / snow / frost and it is extremely hard work. I'm glad she has heat, food and water.

We just wish her all the best and lots of love, always hoping for more good.
Thank you again.

[Gracy]

Texas should ask the Russian government to send a few people to teach them how to handle this situation...

I mean Russia has been handling this for thousands of years, it's time to share and people should stop playing around the issue, people are dying. Ask for the help! It's what i would ask for the Texas government, don't let dumb pride get in the way of people's health and life

Think about it, how can Babushka raise children in Syberia for a thousand years and get along with the cold out there, and yet in Texas people are dying, pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

And there are other countries that could also help with systems they have used for hundreds of years to fix this problem, yet we don't hear anything about it! Rather see people die than say "i don't know how to fix this, please help" ?

:frusty:

I think there's a little more to it than that. It's not that the know how is not here, it's more in where does a state choose to invest their time and resources. While the extreme winter weather seen across Texas is rare, it's not unprecedented. It does happen every now and then, most recently in 2011, and 1989:


Texas has received warnings about its preparedness going back at least three decades.

In 1989 and 2011, Texas experienced significant power disruptions as a result of severe winter storms. Following both events, government regulators recommended power plants in the state prepare their facilities for the extreme cold.

Fast forward to this week, when severe winter storms again disrupted Texas's power plants, causing millions to go without power for several days.

In 2011, federal regulators were already critical of the state's lack of winterizing facilities when it was clear it was needed.

A report prepared by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a federal agency, and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a nonprofit, examined electric and natural gas disruptions across the Southwest during the 2011 cold weather event.

It found 210 power generating units under the jurisdiction of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas experienced an outage or disruption over a few days in February 2011, affecting 3.2 million people. ERCOT, a nonprofit, still oversees the state's electrical grid.

The authors of the report also determined that, while especially severe, the 2011 cold event was not without precedent. They found there had been several instances of severe cold weather impacting power prior to 2011, particularly in 1989.

The report said that in that year, following the power disruptions caused by cold weather, the Public Utility Commission of Texas recommended several actions to ensure power plants could withstand extreme weather. Those actions included yearly reviews to check for cold-weather preparedness, maintaining proper insulation, and employee training for cold weather emergency situations.

However, those actions were not mandatory, and more than two dozen of the generators that failed in 1989 failed again in 2011. The report criticized the repeated failures and the fact that power plants were not required to prepare for cold weather following the 1989 event.
https://news.yahoo.com/extreme-cold-events-1989-2011-051906264.html

The three little pigs story is a good analogy, from the individual, all the way up through state and federal governments. It's a lot of hard work and resources to build your house out of brick, but when the big bad wolf comes around it will pay off in spades.

Usually, even the house made out of sticks is sufficient, and it seems that's how Texas has been rolling the dice.

Compare this to the changes Florida made after the utter and complete devastation following Cat 5 Hurricane Andrew in 1992.


Building codes were overhauled after Andrew devastated entire neighborhoods when it roared through Miami-Dade County as a Category 5 storm on Aug. 24, 1992.

The state adopted the Florida Building Code as its first statewide code in 2002, mandating that new structures be built to withstand hurricane force winds and have storm shutters or impact-resistant windows.
https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/hurricane-andrew-changed-building-regulations-storm-response/wBDGKa7DcCO0b79Lb77LpJ/

Houses built since these new strict codes were put in place now survive even storms like Andrew, while others built earlier are washed away or obliterated. They may lose the roofing or siding in extreme cases, but odds are the structure will remain in place.

Florida got the message loud and clear from that disaster, and started building their houses out of "brick" for the next time the big bad wolf pays a visit.

Will Texas finally get that message after this? I think the people will demand it this time.

[Mark]

It was pretty tough for a lot of people. I’m between Austin and San Antonio, in San Marcos. My house only lost power for a couple of hours. Two days later we lost water for a day. But there were people in neighborhoods just across the highway who were subject to rolling blackouts, power would come on for an hour then down again for five, others who never got power back until the end. As our house is not next to a hospital, I have no idea why my neighborhood was not subject to the rolling blackouts. We are right across the street from a middle school and elementary school but it is not my understanding that schools are critical infrastructure.

I’ve spent decades in cold weather states and nations so the ice and snow wasn’t an issue for me personally but these folks down here don’t know how to drive on ice so I stayed off the roads as much as possible and just stayed in, we had enough food from when we stocked up in the early part of Covid. I’m quite sure that this is not going to be an isolated event. Texas will respond pretty quickly to ERCOT and the grid failures but I don’t know how much will get done as this was quickly turned into a partisan battle about the green new deal and wind turbines versus natural gas and oil.

[East Sun]

I'm trying to recall where I recently read someone mention HAARP in relation to the Texas
extremely low temperatures.

I can only speculate based on past info. that was written about on the internet, in the News
etc. HAARP has been mentioned in regards to "weather wars" and we have seen here on Avalon
evidence of world wide extreme weather.

I never thought about it but who is HAARP responsible to? What is their agenda? Are they part of
Government? They have power to devastate cities, countries even and play God with different parts
of the USA and the world at large.

Who in power can stop them? If they are causing climate change and blaming it on the environment
they need to be stopped. And stopped NOW.

[onawah]

CLIMATE LOCKDOWNS TO BREAK US INTO A NEW PEASANT CLASS
February 20, 2021
https://forbiddenknowledgetv.net/climate-lockdowns-to-break-us-into-a-new-peasant-class/

vbe6hj/?pub=4




































"The latest from Greg Reese!

***

TRANSCRIPT

On May 1st of 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13920, securing the United States’ bulk power system.

In the Executive Order, Trump stated that he found that foreign adversaries had been, “Exploiting and creating vulnerabilities in the United States’ bulk power system, and that “The bulk power system is a target of those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States and its people, because a successful attack on our bulk power system would present significant risks to our economy, human health and safety and would render the United States less capable of acting in defense of itself and its allies.”

Power transformers are the backbone of out electrical grid and about 85% of our transformers are coming from abroad, including Communist China, who 9 years ago bragged that they supported 10% of New York City’s electrical load.

On his very first day in the White House, President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis. In Section 7 (c) of this Order, it is written that, “The Executive Order of May 1, 2020 (Securing the United States Bulk Power System), is hereby suspended for 90 days.”

On February 12th, ahead of winter storm Uri, Governor Greg Abbott declared a State of Disaster, due to “The imminent threat of loss of life, due to prolonged freezing temperatures.”

With several board members living out of state, including one in Canada, with backgrounds in Economics and Environmentalism, rather than Energy, ERCOT manages over 90% of the Texas electrical grid.

On February 14th, ERCOT requested that the Secretary of Energy issue an order authorizing the use of energy, currently restricted due to carbon emissions. Biden’s Department of Energy responded in an official document, which prioritizes the environment over human life.

During a State Emergency, the Federal Government incentivized ERCOT to shut off the power, by charging them 18,000% higher than regular prices. And when the record freezing temperatures reached Texas, ERCOT shut off power to neighborhoods it deemed “non-essential”, thereby murdering people in their own beds.

There has never been a time in American history where this happened before. They have already succeeded at making us so stupid, that we believe there is no such thing as sexual gender and made us so weak, that we allow them to steal an election before our very eyes.

They will now put us on endless climate lockdowns, shutting down our power grid to kill us and break our will. As the men continue to do nothing, the women will grow to resent them, thereby destroying the family bond.

So long as we continue to do nothing, we will be murdered or broken and brought to heel, where we will beg for whatever scraps our degenerate masters choose to offer us.

And if we refuse to stand up, then we deserve every bit of what’s coming."

[iota]

Texas should ask the Russian government to send a few people to teach them how to handle this situation...

I mean Russia has been handling this for thousands of years, it's time to share and people should stop playing around the issue, people are dying. Ask for the help! It's what i would ask for the Texas government, don't let dumb pride get in the way of people's health and life

Think about it, how can Babushka raise children in Syberia for a thousand years and get along with the cold out there, and yet in Texas people are dying, pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

And there are other countries that could also help with systems they have used for hundreds of years to fix this problem, yet we don't hear anything about it! Rather see people die than say "i don't know how to fix this, please help" ?

:frusty:

Mashika you keep commenting after me and quoting me and i largely ignore you because of THIS comment

so before i have any interest in engagement with you?


i need to know .. .was this completely insensitive not to mention the most idiotic and absolutely useless solution your comment?

or your sister's?

i'm wondering who needs support in understanding that when people are in pain and even dying??

criticism is NEVER appropriate

ONLY compassion and love

and has such little knowledge of my country as to NOT understand that there are parts here with equal experience of winter that we would turn to BEFORE calling on Russia

which by the way what number were we supposed to call?

just pick up the phone and dial anyone?

and of course the translation problem?

AS IF in the MIDDLE of OUR EMERGENCY THIS WOULD BE THE BRIGHT IDEA

let me CALL RUSSIA AND ASK FOR HELP so i'm notlabeled a ... what was it that this said?


"pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

not to mention extreme disappointment in whoever thanked this useless, insensitive, insulting comment

i saw this ... and did not log on for ALMOST A MONTH because so great was my disappointment in the comment and the people who thanked it'

by the way?

there are probably in the neighborhood of a MILLION solutions with more workablity that did NOT involve insults, insensitivity, lack of compassion, language barriers ... etc

and most do not even require much intelligence or imagination to come up with something better than what was suggested here

AND that in YOUR opionion? merited insult for NOT thinking or doing this?

you've got to be kidding ... except this is NOT funny nor was the experience of living through this a suitable subject to joke about or insult OR ENCOURAGE BY THANKING

just to be CLEAR

[Mashika]

Texas should ask the Russian government to send a few people to teach them how to handle this situation...

I mean Russia has been handling this for thousands of years, it's time to share and people should stop playing around the issue, people are dying. Ask for the help! It's what i would ask for the Texas government, don't let dumb pride get in the way of people's health and life

Think about it, how can Babushka raise children in Syberia for a thousand years and get along with the cold out there, and yet in Texas people are dying, pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

And there are other countries that could also help with systems they have used for hundreds of years to fix this problem, yet we don't hear anything about it! Rather see people die than say "i don't know how to fix this, please help" ?

:frusty:

i need to know .. .was this completely insensitive not to mention the most idiotic and absolutely useless solution your comment?

or your sister's?

i'm wondering who needs support in understanding that when people are in pain and even dying??

criticism is NEVER appropriate

ONLY compassion and love

and has such little knowledge of my country as to NOT understand that there are parts here with equal experience of winter that we would turn to BEFORE calling on Russia

which by the way what number were we supposed to call?

just pick up the phone and dial anyone?

and of course the translation problem?

AS IF in the MIDDLE of OUR EMERGENCY THIS WOULD BE THE BRIGHT IDEA

let me CALL RUSSIA AND ASK FOR HELP so i'm not a ... what was it that this said?


", pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch

not to mention extreme disappointment in whoever thanked this useless, insensitive, insulting comment

i saw this ... and did not log on for ALMOST A MONTH because so great was my disappointment in the comment and the people who thanked it'

by the way?

there are probably in the neighborhood of a MILLION solutions with more workablity that did NOT involve insults, insensitivity, lack of compassion, language barriers ... etc

and most do not even require much intelligence or imagination to come up with something better than what was suggested here

AND merited insult for NOT thinking or doing this?

you've got to be kidding ... except this is NOT funny nor a joking matter

Like this, it's you who is acting arrogant, the people who was helped there by the Mexican army did not think they were being "arrogant" for showing up there with SOLUTIONS that were needed immediately, which also did not got there on time by the US government.

So spare me your twisted view of what being insensitive is, because you clearly have no idea. As neither had the people in control of that state back when that happened, so that EXTERNAL HELP was needed, WHY ARE WE YELLING!, BECAUSE OF YOUR FRAGILE EGO GOT HURT?

Mw34ANHrIAE

The people who needs help, HAS to receive the help, whoever that help comes from, and the fact is that people died there because of lack of progress and will to do anything about the problem, so yes, spare me your high moral ground, the family of the people who died there because of the stupidity of your government would disagree with your butt hurt ego

And where were those people who have equal experience? Where were they? No where to be seen

Go tell the parents of this kid that everything is ok, because no help from those bastards are needed, you can handle it all! Also the ones unprepared on 2005 or whatever, who also got killed because of the lack of preparation

thHzSDzEREA

Sit down

[iota]

Like this, it's you who is acting arrogant, the people who was helped there by the Mexican army did not think they were being "arrogant" for showing up there with SOLUTIONS that were needed immediately, which also did not got there on time by the US government.

So spare me your twisted view of what being insensitive is, because you clearly have no idea. As neither had the people in control of that state back when that happened, so that EXTERNAL HELP was needed, WHY ARE WE YELLING!, BECAUSE OF YOUR FRAGILE EGO GOT HURT?

The people who needs help, HAS to receive the help, whoever that help comes from, and the fact is that people died there because of lack of progress and will to do anything about the problem, so yes, spare me your high moral ground, the family of the people who died there because of the stupidity of your government would disagree with your butt hurt ego

And where were those people who have equal experience? Where were they? No where to be seen

Go tell the parents of this kid that everything is ok, because no help from those bastards are needed, you can handle it all! Also the ones unprepared on 2005 or whatever, who also got killed because of the lack of preparation

Sit down


so it WAS you?

ok .. thanks for that ... so you can stop following me throughout the forum attempting to engage me because it isn't going to happen ..in fact, i'll block you and never even see it ...

we hold completely different beliefs

... for your information

when people are suffering?

THE ONLY APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS COMPASSION

the suffering of others IS NOT an appropriate topic to ridicule

and NEVER INSULT

what WAS complete nonsense? was THE idea that in the middle of this emergency?

we would be guilty of "STUPID, ARROGANT DUMB PRIDE"

to not think:

"right now? THE VERY BEST IDEA? would be to call Russia!"

what number?

who was ready to answer?

what about the language barrier?

what better ideas than the people of Chicago? Alabama? Georgia? and the other 30- 40 states that have plenty of experience with snow?

spare you?

allow you to insult?

who are you?

on what basis have you arrived at the conclusion that YOU would "know better than us" what we need? and i'm sorry, who asked you?

how did this concern you?

it is incredibly arrogant, insensitive and even cruel that you think it appropriate to comment on the suffering of others in a derogatory, disparaging manner as though the pain of others and what they dealt with was an appropriate subject to ridicule

but it isn't

this affected me, family, friends and community in a harrowing manner and it was a direct preplanned attack due to our unwillingness to be subjugated

the last thing we need is someone from a country who HAS allowed itself to be completely subjugated to hold herself in a superior manner and ridicule our suffering

i'm not clear why you thought this to be appropriate?
or how it is that tragedy i experienced personally concerned you?
or why you feel it is appropriate to insult us?

I AM CLEAR i do not share in your views

i won't be responding to anything else from you < as i seriously doubt that an apology, which would be the ONLY appropriate response will be forthcoming ..

i'm just outright blocking you as ALL of your words so far ?

have quickly
dispelled ALL notions
that ANY thing you may write in the future
would be worth the time it takes to read it ..

[Mashika]

Like this, it's you who is acting arrogant, the people who was helped there by the Mexican army did not think they were being "arrogant" for showing up there with SOLUTIONS that were needed immediately, which also did not got there on time by the US government.

So spare me your twisted view of what being insensitive is, because you clearly have no idea. As neither had the people in control of that state back when that happened, so that EXTERNAL HELP was needed, WHY ARE WE YELLING!, BECAUSE OF YOUR FRAGILE EGO GOT HURT?

Mw34ANHrIAE

The people who needs help, HAS to receive the help, whoever that help comes from, and the fact is that people died there because of lack of progress and will to do anything about the problem, so yes, spare me your high moral ground, the family of the people who died there because of the stupidity of your government would disagree with your butt hurt ego

And where were those people who have equal experience? Where were they? No where to be seen

Go tell the parents of this kid that everything is ok, because no help from those bastards are needed, you can handle it all! Also the ones unprepared on 2005 or whatever, who also got killed because of the lack of preparation

thHzSDzEREA

Sit down


so it WAS you?

ok .. thanks for that ... so you can stop following me throughout the forum attempting to engage me because it isn't going to happen ..in fact, i'll block you and never even see it ... understand you will NEVER again receive a reply from me, there is absolutely nothing that could come from you that might hold interest from me ..

we hold completely different beliefs

... for your information

when people are suffering?

THE ONLY APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS COMPASSION

NEVER INSULTS

what DID merit insult? was THE idea that in the middle of this emergency?

we would be guilty of "STUPID, ARROGANT DUMB PRIDE"

to not think:

"right now? THE VERY BEST IDEA? would be to call Russia!"

what number?

who was ready to answer?

what about the language barrier?

what better ideas than the people of Chicago? Alabama? Georgia? and the other 30- 40 states that have plenty of experience with snow?

spare you?

allow you to insult?

i'm sorry ... who is it that has "pride"??

your arrogance in presumption that YOU would "know better than us" what we need is extraordinary, unmertited of course, but extraordinary

and incredible that you think it appropriate to comment on the suffering of others in a derogatory, disparaging manner even laughing as though you hold yourself to be so superior?

i do not share in your views, either of solutions nor of your superiority

so ... .. thank you for

dispelling ALL notions
that ANY thing you may write
would be worth the time it takes to read it .. :thumbsup:



Lol, this is meaningless and useless bickering lmao

You are acting like a kid, which only confirms things i said before

If a single person dies, not because it could not be avoided, but because of inaction or incompetence, then YES, people need to be held accountable for that

There are direct lines between all the governments in the world. You think the Mexican army just invited themselves to Texas one day, just because they felt like? "IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE US GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT HANDLE THE PROBLEM AS FAST AS THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT COULD AT THE TIME"

Are we yelling enough yet? So that you understand that if at least one single life is saved, it doesn't matter pride or nationalism or all those ridiculous things in any way?

Anyways, you're attitude is so naive that this is the last time i reply to you. But just so you know, the US president has a direct line to Putin, and one also to any other president in the world that matters, even the guy in North Korea, it's just a matter of picking up the phone and saying "i need to talk with that guy", so yes

Your naivety about world matters is astonishing

Domo Arigato

Also, i won't be dragged into this ridiculous game. Way beyond that, mister

Release your frustration somewhere else. You don't have a clue about what i know or what i really think, or who i am. Just as i don't know who you are, but your words have said a lot just now :clapping::cake:

[iota]

one last thing ... you should know what it means that i have determined that i would NOT find any merit in ANY further contribution from you

i'm the person who NEVER ignores ANYBODY

i learn from children ALL the time
there is a homeless man who sees my vehicle coming and reaches in to hug me
because not only have i given him money? and water and food?
i have stopped to listen

i'm grieving right now over the death of a person with Down's Syndrome that taught me extraordinary lessons in love, she would always save me a place besides her and people thought i was being "kind" to sit with her

that is because people do not understand REAL treasure when it is offered.

sitting besides her? i got hugged and loved and accepted unconditionally and THAT is a "gift" many of my "normal" friends have yet to learn how to express freely

so i was NOT being kind" i was soaking it in .. and i truly DO mourn her loss ...

like i said, i've always felt you can learn from anyone

except YOU

because in all honesty? i cannot fathom that i would want to learn anything from anyone who would be not just indifferent to the pain of others but condescending

and find it an appropriate topic to ridicule

i guess i should be thankful that you are the only such person i have come across
and that thankfully the means exist here to ignore you completely

not really something to be proud of i think ...

because, by the way, even if you can't find it in your heart to show compassion? it doesn't take "high moral ground" to refrain from ridiculing and insulting people in the midst of their suffering,

just basic human decency

[iota]

so here's the thing ...


46585

[Karen (Geophyz)]

Let's all agree to not bicker on the forum please. Everyone here sees things through different eyes and so has a different opinion.

Back to what is happening in Texas! Our federal and state government have failed us. Those of us closest to the border are just on our own to fend for ourselves. I hope Mr. Abbott and his crew are paying attention....they will wonder what happened come the next election and we elect ANYONE but them.

This is no longer a country since we have no secure borders.

[iota]

Let's all agree to not bicker on the forum please. Everyone here sees things through different eyes and so has a different opinion.

Back to what is happening in Texas! Our federal and state government have failed us. Those of us closest to the border are just on our own to fend for ourselves. I hope Mr. Abbott and his crew are paying attention....they will wonder what happened come the next election and we elect ANYONE but them.

This is no longer a country since we have no secure borders.



let me be CLEAR

if people here are of the "opinion" that the appropriate response to tragedy are insults and ridicule?

and insults and ridicule are considered acceptable "opinion"?

one that merits "thanks" but NOT a counter perspective?

particularly from someone directly impacted?

im in the wrong place

and i will remedy that quickly

[Mashika]

You are very confused, there's nothing insulting about what i said, it's perfectly clear but let me explain

- Other countries have plans setup already for the exact scenario, with teams at the ready because they experience this every single year since forever
- The US may have been able to gather people, create plans to handle the situation, get all the resource, then train the people and put someone in charge of the logistics. But all of that would have taken weeks or more, and there was no time to do that. That why people died

When something like that happens, it's easier and faster to bring up a team already prepared, trained and that already knows exactly what to do and who will do what and where, just like when the Mexican army was sent, because it may have been unexpected in the US, that a flood like that would happen, but on Mexico it happens almost every year, and the US army was going to take weeks to be able to help people. There was not enough time so an already prepared team was sent, one that has lots of experience handling this exact same situation plenty of times before, for decades

And there's nothing arrogant, insulting or whatever about it, it's a matter of saving lives

I think it's very obvious the real reason you attacked me with so much hate and insults, and is not what i suggested. Also i don't know what you going all about my sister's issue, that was months ago and has nothing to do with this.

The only reason you feel my suggestion was an insult is because of misplaced patriotism, or whatever you want to call it, that prevents you from seeing clear

"How is the US going to receive help, that would be preposterous, we are the best country in the world!" That's just dumb, ask the families of the people who died, was their sacrifice worth it just so that some government people would not feel the shame of accepting external help that was very needed?

And i'm the arrogant?

This is a very pointless argument so i'm just going to skip

[Zirconian]

Karen (Geophyz),

I've read your posts and I really admire your resilience.

iota,

I truly do understand. I feel words should be chosen with great care. Especially now, in these difficult times for many.

Take care both of you.

[Mashika]

When i saw the news that people were freezing on their own homes because there was no power, i felt powerless and actually angry at the lack of any support they got. It could have been prevented so easily, just simply by building a kang bed stove in their homes, with a few cinder blocks

They depended on electricity and when it went out, there was no one to help and they did not know how to fix the problem, so they died

If there had been more information about how to build a simple small kang bed stove on their own homes. Those deaths could have been prevented, but it never happened, no one was there for them

A kang stove may not be a full solution, but would have increased their chances to survive until power was back, or help would get there. It would heat them for hours or a full day, without any electricity. That's what i meant and it felt bad watching the news and saying "i would have just built one in the living room and they died because they did not know about it"

Those people should not be dead, that's all i'm saying

[Mashika]

You twisted my words and it's perfectly clear what your intention was. I'm sorry people followed you into it. I did not intend to insult anyone and you keep twisting things around to push what's is painfully obvious is your agenda. There's no honor or pride on doing such things

I don't need this

[Mashika]

Karen (Geophyz),

I've read your posts and I really admire your resilience.

iota,

I truly do understand. I feel words should be chosen with great care. Especially now, in these difficult times for many.

Take care both of you.

Dopamine, one hell of a drug isn't it? People would do whatver they can for just one more hit

I wish you the best, theres a very hard spiritual battle on the way up from what you tried to do, but you ended up placing yourself l. regardless of what you can see or lack of understanding of right now

ドーパミン、そのような薬でしょ？

Only you know what you carry inside, dont let it destroy:flower:

Someone will probably come and test you again, like i did, and you must pass the test, dont get angry gather withing you.

[iota]

one last thing ... you should know what it means that i have determined that i would NOT find any merit in ANY further contribution from you

i'm the person who NEVER ignores ANYBODY

i learn from children ALL the time
there is a homeless man who sees my vehicle coming and reaches in to hug me
because not only have i given him money? and water and food?
i have stopped to listen


so i need to clean up this communication

it is important to be responsible not just for the words that we use but what can be reasonably inferred by those words

so while it IS true that there is a homeless man who sees my vehicle coming and reaches in to hug me?

and i HAVE

given him money? and water and food?
AND > i have stopped to listen

that's NOT why he reaches in my car to hug me when he sees me

it's not because of me ...
it's because of Josh ...

it was a stop we frequented
and it was Josh who ALWAYS made it a point to give him money
on more than one occasion MADE me

"just turn around mommy ... just turn around real quick"

and a couple of times i ran late to get him?

he had walked down and i found him talking to the man

SOOOO ..

when the day came that i pulled up to the stop?
AND he came to the car?

and i looked at him and said "josh is gone"
and burst into tears?
he reached in and hugged me

and he has ever since ...

and the REALLY cool part is that when i said "Josh is gone"

he didn't ask "WHO?"

everybody has their own idea of VALUE .. this would be mine

and so when i had the most awesome teacher in my son about compassion and caring for your fellow human ...

i could not stay where the opposite is upheld ...

... i just CANNOT "get past" the fact that HERE on this forum

is an individual who upon hearing that we were in the midst of tragedy?

responded with criticism, derision, made fun of us, even insulting us

not ONLY was she critical?

"don't let dumb pride get in the way .."

and the judgment ...

"pride and arrogance is a terrible b*tch"


wow ...

and her very avatar depicts an impetuous spoiled brat INTENT on forcing her bad mood upon people in and of itself is demonstrative of her indifference to the impact she has on others ...

what an insult to the memory of Josh, whose very life and soul exemplified kindness, compassion, caring and love EXPRESSED to not just friends but EVERYONE...

again, what a waste of precious oxygen and energy

speaking of friends .. little known (to you guys) is THAT was one thing josh got from ME ... the absolute DEEP LOVE of friends

the little spiel i joked on loyalty for Sue on Bill's April Fool's thread?

that's real

if you have found residence in my heart in the slot of friendship?

i will value you and treasure you and honor you

and i ALWAYS have my friend's back ... you've seen that a time or two here ...

i don't "throw my friends away" i tend to keep them ...

you know of the hundreds of friends i have?
a good 25 - 30 have known me since i was SIX years old?

and there are MORE than 100 that have known me since i was 13

more were accumulated with the passage of time and numerous involvements but the point is that though my friends are NOT "saints" by any stretch of the imagination

they DO have minimal basic human decency standards

out of ALL of them?
there is NOT a SINGLE one

who would EVER

KNOW i experienced a tragedy?

AND that someone was critical, judgmental, derisive AND insulting in speaking OF my tragedy ..

AND then? >>>>> Pat that person on the back (THANK HER)

NOT A SINGLE FRIEND of mine

would EVER insult me in that way

and IF they did?

NOT ONE would expect to REMAIN my friend

unevolved low consciousness beings like this M person? i've eaten for lunch since i was 19

she was handled and is now ignored

what i could NOT and CAN NOT get past?

is that her OFFENSIVE behavior? > "got a pat on the back" (thanked)

THAT? was hurtful

so i feel we have to set some MINIMAL standards for friendship

and if you've done that?

we don't get to "hang out"

i am NOT "Friends" with people who feel insults and criticism to tragedy is appropriate and behavior to be reinforced

THAT was what kept me away

ANY place that reinforces THAT lack of compassion and behavior is not a place i wish to be associated with ...

and now? to see her comments go unchallenged

but mine? told not to bicker?

that's a bit much to swallow ...

which was WHY i was CLEAR and specific


if people here are of the "opinion" that the appropriate response to tragedy are insults and ridicule?

and insults and ridicule are considered acceptable "opinion"?

one that merits "thanks" but NOT a counter perspective?

particularly from someone directly impacted?

im in the wrong place

what is ACCEPTABLE
and REINFORCED

matters

that was NOT ok

and to have the LEADERSHIP reinforce this behavior AND then go on my thread and engage in it as well?

THAT is NOT ok

and to expect SILENCE from me? as though it WERE ok? was never going to happen ...

you are free to choose this expression and i will actually champion your RIGHT to choose

BUT that right is reciprocal and i too am free to choose to express the impact that it had on me

as i stated:





because, by the way, even if you can't find it in your heart to show compassion?

it doesn't take "high moral ground" to refrain from ridiculing and insulting people in the midst of their suffering,

just basic human decency

PS Sue, who started this thread out of genuine authentic concern for us .. is of course NOT included in this .. as i'm sure she was just being her sweet self to thank ALL posters on her thread ..