Ice everywhere, malfunctioning heating systems, extreme frustration amid darkness, and a number of casualties due to power outages in Texas where millions experienced their worst days.
Texas has been plunged into darkness following ongoing power outages affecting millions of residents after a winter storm of unprecedented severity claimed at least 21 lives. The icy conditions threatened to paralyze the second-largest state in the country and its surrounding areas for several days.
Approximately 2.7 million homes were without electricity, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, a cooperative responsible for 90 percent of the state's electricity, which has faced increasing criticism over the massive failure of the power grid. Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized the state’s electricity provider for its lack of clarity, stating that it failed to provide information on which areas would regain power first after the storm-induced outages.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided Texas with generators and is preparing to supply diesel fuel to assist with backup power availability, as President Joe Biden approved a state of emergency in the state on Sunday.
Millions of Texans endured severe hardships in the worst conditions they have faced, as they found no source of heating amid power outages and struggled to obtain fuel supplies. A furniture store in Houston opened its doors as a warming center, welcoming those without shelter and those who fled their homes due to malfunctioning heating systems. A mother of four from the state reported that they were trying to stay warm by running and sitting in their cars for short periods.
