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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThis is bad. UPDATE 02-17-21
I am pleased to report that, right now, things arent so bad. Thanks to DU for all the prayers, thoughts, good vibes, and all the positive karma this site generates. It has meant a lot to me.
Power was restored yesterday at 11:30 AM. We got 12 1/2 hours of power before it cut off at Midnight. It was nice to be able to make some coffee and cook some food in the microwave. Sandwiches were getting old. At midnight, we returned to the minivan for heat. Power returned again at 3:00 AM this morning and continues to run now8:30 AM. Internet service, for some reason, is superb.
We only got 3-4 inches of additional snow yesterday. We may get a little more this afternoon, but were not stuck. I can still get the van out onto the main road if need be. We still have a half a tank of gas. Water, of course, is unavailablepipes frozen solid. Its currently 23 degrees. Were expecting a high of 25 today. Temperatures may reach 34 degrees tomorrow for a brief period, but were not expecting a real thaw until Saturday.
Were not so panicked at this point. We will be fine if the electricity remains on.
More tomorrow.
-Laelth
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)So glad to hear you have power, even if intermittent.
Youre doing a great job! Stay safe!
Ohiogal
(31,989 posts)Hopefully things continue to improve! Were all pulling for you! Thanks for checking in!
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Firestorm49
(4,032 posts)denbot
(9,899 posts)Keeping good thoughts for everyone in your circumstances.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I'm so glad things are better for you, Laelth! Hang in there!
Continuing to send good vibes to you & yours, and the whole situation! 💕💕💕
Ty for updating us!
sarge43
(28,941 posts)Stay safe and please keep us updated.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)Frozen pipes are bad but you can also alleviate some pain by putting an old fashioned 100 watt light very near the pipe where it comes into the house. As long as you have power this will help thaw them.
Another trick is to sink a piece of iron rebar into the ground so it makes contact with the buried pipes in your yard, then attaching a car battery to it via jumper cables. The current will transfer to the copper or iron pipes and help thaw them underground.
Of coarse if the underground pipes are plastic then this is not going to work that well.
Good luck.
NJCher
(35,662 posts)said he was able to drain the pipes before this cold front happened.
That's a cool trick about the reber. I'm going to pass that along to a few people.
wnylib
(21,447 posts)when there is electricity, is to go to the piping under the sink and hold a hair dryer to the pipe, set on high heat and full force. Leave the faucet open so you can hear the water come out of it when it thaws. Then leave it on to let a trickle come through to keep it from freezing up again.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)... Maybe enough force that you don't know when you punch through the copper. Geyser time.
Lonestarblue
(9,981 posts)I think were all just looking forward to Saturday when the ice melts and we can get out again. I live on a hill and the street is nothing but ice, so even if the cold didnt keep me home, the danger of driving anywhere would. I sure would like a good, hot meal of Chinese takeout!
niyad
(113,284 posts)Please keep us posted.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)if your getting heat it will help thaw, better if you have some lights that can be place near the pipes
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Its our external pipes that are frozen solid, and theres nothing that can be done about that until the ground thaws on Saturday, at the earliest.
-Laelth
wnylib
(21,447 posts)to keep them from bursting when frozen. Hope the frozen external pipes will be ok.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Repair is going to cost the management a lot of money, and I suspect that Monday is an optimistic estimate of when water service can be fully restored.
-Laelth
wnylib
(21,447 posts)against the agency that ordered the shut off and/or the utility companies.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Thats why Texas made power-allocation the exclusive function of a state agency. If my local co-op made decisions that caused this damage, they could be sued. Here, ERCOT (a state agency) made these decisions centrally, for the entire state, thereby shielding all the states private power companies from liability. ERCOT has immunity from liability for its decisions because it is a state agency acting in the best interests of the state. Each and every decision they make is shielded by Sovereign Immunity (so long as the decision-maker was acting within his or her proper authority as an agent of the state when said damaging, possibly reckless, decision was made).
-Laelth
wnylib
(21,447 posts)Imagine a modern day Robin Hood type, taking from the rich, not to give to the poor, which can't be done with gas and electricity service, but to equalize them in a natural disaster.
If this were a movie, the script would call for an adventurous rogue to disrupt service to the homes and businesses of the culprits in creative ways.
No, I am not advocating it, but can at least smile at the thought of it.
Sadly, Daughter and I are in the ERCOT zone.
-Laelth
bdamomma
(63,845 posts)for you, please be safe and try to stay warm.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)gademocrat7
(10,656 posts)Hoping the power stays on. Take care.
TNNurse
(6,926 posts)how many people on here were worried and concerned for you and your daughter.
It means a lot. Thank you.
-Laelth
Alacritous Crier
(3,816 posts)So glad things are beginning to look up!
Stay safe.
barbtries
(28,789 posts)it's a catastrophe for sure, glad you're staying well.
CaptainTruth
(6,589 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,655 posts)dlk
(11,561 posts)Fingers crossed it stays on.
VA_Jill
(9,966 posts)I have friends in SA, DFW, and Houston areas and have heard from them. I am most worried about one who lives in the Panhandle area near Pampa though. She is on a ranch about an hour out of Amarillo. I messaged her yesterday but haven't heard a word.
Praying for you and all in this awful time.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)When I read your first post about this, it seemed bleak. Very glad it has, at least partially, worked out.
We'll all keep a good thought for this to never happen again, but this DIY looks useful. At least as useful as closing the barn door after the horse is gone.
One thing I think the poster should have mentioned is that, if you're having too much trouble getting the roll into the can, you can always unwind a bit, tear it off and try again. It shouldn't take much.
IMO, if you're already using a quart can of paint, you could easily wash it out, as long as the paint hadn't dried, and it's water-based. I'd opt to buy a new, empty one.
I hope you find this helpful.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)If you are worried about the toxicity of iso alcohol, there are brands that are mostly ethanol, which is safe.
questionseverything
(9,654 posts)I carry a large tin can and a candle, I think that flame is more controlled but the tp candle would probably provide more heat
BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)They didn't test these alcohol fuels against candles, and candles vary widely, but I'm sure you could replicate their test conditions and compare your results with the ones posted.
It involves boiling a given amount of water in the shortest time. I'm sure the ambient temperature matters a lot, and I don't recall if they posted that, or talked about it on the video.
A very quick and cursory search turned up a statement saying that, for flames of equal size, alcohol burns hotter.
questionseverything
(9,654 posts)And a small pan with deep sides would work in a pinch
Sometimes it isnt about whats best, its about what you have available
iluvtennis
(19,852 posts)Nevilledog
(51,094 posts)Fla Dem
(23,656 posts)Aussie105
(5,388 posts)works again!
Warmer weather heading your way, I'm sure.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,490 posts)KY.............
JudyM
(29,236 posts)a relief to hear it doesnt feel existential... itll be a great survival story when its finally behind you.
SergeStorms
(19,200 posts)There's finally a little electric light at the end of the tunnel. I hope everyone in Texas (even republicans) gets up and running very soon. Amazing how we take little things, like turning on a light-switch, for granted.
Glad you're doing better, Laelth.
onlyadream
(2,166 posts)I read that a family was killed staying warm in their car. So damn sad.
Jay25
(417 posts)Maraya1969
(22,479 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,146 posts)especially the outside one. A little drip, drip might prevent bursting of pipes.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)The outside lines are frozen, entirely.
-Laelth
bucolic_frolic
(43,146 posts)Opening the faucets a 1/4 turn is an attempt to make the weak point the open valve for the ice to swell into, rather than the ice finding the weakest point of the pipe.
It's a hoper idea, but what's the downside?
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
soldierant
(6,857 posts)but it might not be a bad idea to save the info in case there is a future need. The first part, that is. The second part is a righteous rant. Come to think oof it, that might warm the neart.)
mzmolly
(50,992 posts)on twitter.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-power-outage-help-warming-shelter/
You may be familiar but I thought I'd share in case it's of help.
I'm thankful that you and your daughter are doing better. And, I'm so glad you have had some warmth and better food.
trof
(54,256 posts)Sounds like some burst pipes when it thaws out.
Stay safe.
stage left
(2,962 posts)you got some hours of power and could make coffee. That's what you miss most when the power is out.