This week's disaster on Okla. and Texas had me getting in touch with relatives and people I know. My older daughter in Edmond OK. weathered the storm fine as they have their own back-up generator as did my ex-wife. My ex's older sister in Dallas had their home ($1 million+) ruined by broken and flooding pipes. Ridiculous considering she and her husband are formerly from London Ont. and owned a home in Minneapolis for many years as her hubby was a VP at 3M. I guess their cold weather experience never registered. Another friend in Dallas, formerly from Hamilton, beat the cold by leaving her taps partially running, an old Canuck trick.
*
The Texas problem is nothing new. My last full winter in Okla., 1984-1985, saw the temperatures dip down to 5-10* F over a three week period from mid December/84 to early January/85. Pipes froze and split as far south as Houston. Obviously the Texas utility services ignored this earlier lesson from Mother Nature and their ill-fated decision to leave the national power grid left them alone and helpless for 2-3 days until the temperatures moderated.
*
The Texas problem is nothing new. My last full winter in Okla., 1984-1985, saw the temperatures dip down to 5-10* F over a three week period from mid December/84 to early January/85. Pipes froze and split as far south as Houston. Obviously the Texas utility services ignored this earlier lesson from Mother Nature and their ill-fated decision to leave the national power grid left them alone and helpless for 2-3 days until the temperatures moderated.
Comment