Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
All I can say about it is that its been a challenge. I live outside San Antonio and my parents ranch is about an hour southeast of there. For the last five days Ive managed to get and keep the water well going, built fires next to the water cistern (well water), and cattle troughs to keep the water flowing so long as the power stayed on, which was a frustration in itself. I consider ourselves lucky in dealing with hours long power outages, on again and off again. Have friends across the state that have been without power for days at a time, one of which is going on 5 days now. But as others have said, you have to assess and triage the situation and make due with what youve got or have access to. We have been in contact with a lot of the local ranchers and they have had a hard time getting water and feed to livestock, etc. Loosing cattle and calves, etc. I would image other livestock producers are experiencing the same things.
Our normal winter here down south is maybe a couple days below freezing, or overnight freezing, but never lasting an extended period of time. And most down here surely dont have a lot of experience driving on ice and snow, like fish out of water. We normally dont see that white or clear stuff in any kind of accumulation but about once every 8-10 years. But we are pretty good at sticking it out some summers for 100+ days with triple digit heat and high humidity 
Mike mentioned earlier the economic loss of this storm. I work in the claims industry as a third party Building Consultant on large insurance losses. To put it in perspective, I heard earlier today it is projected the building damage losses due to frozen pipes and water damage to residential and commercial buildings may rival that of Katrina (some 70-80 billion) for building damages extending from Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and across the rest of the south and into the northeast.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
1892takedown said
Mike mentioned earlier the economic loss of this storm. I work in the claims industry as a third party Building Consultant on large insurance losses. To put it in perspective, I heard earlier today it is projected the building damage losses due to frozen pipes and water damage to residential and commercial buildings may rival that of Katrina (some 70-80 billion) for building damages extending from Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and across the rest of the south and into the northeast.
In watching the news, the reports from down there keep keeping worse. Aside from the incredible costs involved to get all the damaged buildings and properties repaired, how long will it take? Are there armies of tradesmen – plumbers, electricians, restoration specialists, etc. – available to tackle all of this? How long will some be waiting in line for repairs? And how do people live and businesses operate during the long waiting time? How much alternate housing is available while people wait?
May 3, 2020
Offline
Read today that Ford are loaning 450 pickups with fitted generators to Texan’s
hope your all safe
BASC member
Texans are tough people with a long history of making do. The sun will come out, the temperature will raise, and the Texan will take steps to prepare for the next one. The tragedy is the loss of life, property can be replaced. I’m sure in the future the Texan will have taken steps to protect himself and his property. But the real question is, will the Government quite messing with the power grid? That electric wire coming into your house can not be your only source of power. GOD BLESS TEXAS. T/R
TR said
Texans are tough people with a long history of making do. The sun will come out, the temperature will raise, and the Texan will take steps to prepare for the next one. The tragedy is the loss of life, property can be replaced. I’m sure in the future the Texan will have taken steps to protect himself and his property. But the real question is, will the Government quite messing with the power grid? That electric wire coming into your house can not be your only source of power. GOD BLESS TEXAS. T/R
T/R – I agree – Texans are tough people and I believe those from Texas will prevail as you suggest. However, a big part of the population down there are not from Texas and many of them cannot be described as tough people. Also, the government is well involved with the power grid and it will be interesting to see if it swings such that the federal government becomes more involved. Big issue down there.
I lived in Houston for a few years in the early 1980’s. Most of the people I knew were not from Texas.
I read about ERCOT and from what understand its not government run its a independent power grid.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
steve004 said
I lived in Houston for a few years in the early 1980’s. Most of the people I knew were not from Texas.
America thought we had won the Mexican War of 1846, but Mexico & the rest of S. A. has had the last laugh! Habla espanol?
clarence said
America thought we had won the Mexican War of 1846, but Mexico & the rest of S. A. has had the last laugh! Habla espanol?
Well Clarence your prejudice raises its ugly head again! I happen to be one of those non original Hustonians but gosh, I moved down from Michigan and am of European descent. Remember that before the war in 1846 Texas WAS Mexico! And just in case you have a real short memory damn near all of us in the US came from some place else.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
twobit said
Well Clarence your prejudice raises its ugly head again! I happen to be one of those non original Hustonians but gosh, I moved down from Michigan and am of European descent. Remember that before the war in 1846 Texas WAS Mexico! And just in case you have a real short memory damn near all of us in the US came from some place else.
Michael
Who said anything about folks coming from Michigan? Your comment is irrelevant to the truth of what I said. Here’s what the stats say:
“Houston’s Hispanic population is increasing rapidly as more Latin American immigrants move to the area to work. Houston now has the 3rd largest Hispanic population in the United States.”
twobit said
Remember that before the war in 1846 Texas WAS Mexico! And just in case you have a real short memory damn near all of us in the US came from some place else.
Michael
I don’t remember that, because it isn’t true. Before the war of 1846, Texas was the independent REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, not Mexico.
My memory is long enough to remember that “damn near all of us” came LEGALLY…if that makes any difference to you.
November 7, 2015
Offline
When Texas won her independence from Mexico in 1836 many if not most Texians were of Mexican descent.
Mike
TXGunNut said
When Texas won her independence from Mexico in 1836 many if not most Texians were of Mexican descent.
Mike
Mike, That’s just not true:
“Later the immigration was stopped. The Mexican government grew alarmed at the immigration threatening to engulf the province. Military troops were moved to the border to enforce the policy. Still there was illegal immigration. Immigrants crossed the border easily and by 1835 there were ten times as many Americans (30,000) as Mexicans. ” Here’s more if you’re interested: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/anglo-american-colonization-in-texas/texas-1821-1836.php
And the Mexicans who were there were NOT illegal immigrants. I should know–I used to be married to one. Unlike twobit, I AM a native Texan. AND I lived in Houston for 7 or 8 yrs (as well as Austin & Ft. Worth), not out in the burbs like twobit, I’ll bet, does, but smack in the heart of the beast, Montrose.
November 7, 2015
Offline
Estimates vary but the important thing is the Mexican born Texians were an important part of the revolution against Mexico. If anything the Anglos were the illegal immigrants in Texas at that time. Too much of our history is written from the Anglo point of view and modern Texans don’t realize how much the Mexican born inhabitants of Texas contributed to our state. All one has to do is look at a list of county names to understand the influence.
Mike
Who said something to the effect that without illegal immigration from Mexico 50,000 Texas housewives will have to learn to wash dishes. We have a very real problem in Canada with illegal immigrants crossing the border from the US by the thousands at illegal crossing points and claiming refugee status here. My wife already knows how to wash dishes !
TXGunNut said
Estimates vary but the important thing is the Mexican born Texians were an important part of the revolution against Mexico. If anything the Anglos were the illegal immigrants in Texas at that time. Too much of our history is written from the Anglo point of view and modern Texans don’t realize how much the Mexican born inhabitants of Texas contributed to our state. All one has to do is look at a list of county names to understand the influence.
Mike
If I recall my history correctly one if the reasons for the Texas Revolution was that Mexico had abolished slavery in 1829 and many white immigrants from the US wanted to bring and keep Black slaves in Texas including Jim Bowie who was a slave trader back home in Louisiana.
TXGunNut said
Too much of our history is written from the Anglo point of view and modern Texans don’t realize how much the Mexican born inhabitants of Texas contributed to our state.
It’s true much of the knowledge of cattle ranching derived from Mexican cowboys, but what else? They played no part in Texas’ biggest industry before the Civil War, King Cotton, nor in the oil business afterwards. But whatever their contribution, surely you’re not suggesting that this history justifies the tidal wave of illegal immigration over the last decade.
You approve of this? “Biden’s open-door plan has already sparked a new surge of 3,500 illegal immigrants to the border daily, according to immigration officials.” (All eligible, by the way, for free health care.) https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/biden-backed-immigration-bill-to-let-deported-back-in-amnesty-for-20-million
November 7, 2015
Offline
Today’s illegal immigration is a political issue and I don’t wish to discuss it here. I was referring to the early days of Texas, something I enjoy reading about and discussing.
Mike
Dave K. said
If I recall my history correctly one if the reasons for the Texas Revolution was that Mexico had abolished slavery in 1829 and many white immigrants from the US wanted to bring and keep Black slaves in Texas including Jim Bowie who was a slave trader back home in Louisiana.
You would have to do a much deeper dive into the history of Mexico to understand the underpinnings that led to the Texas Revolution. You would have to look at the Mexican war of independence from Spain, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, the removal of the monarchy and formation of a federal republic with the Constitution of 1824, the abolishment of the 1824 Constitution in 1835 to a centralized government with Santa Anna as dictator, and so on and so forth.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
1892takedown said
You would have to do a much deeper dive into the history of Mexico to understand the underpinnings that led to the Texas Revolution. You would have to look at the Mexican war of independence from Spain, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, the removal of the monarchy and formation of a federal republic with the Constitution of 1824, the abolishment of the 1824 Constitution in 1835 to a centralized government with Santa Anna as dictator, and so on and so forth.
You are right about that. So much to learn and so little time. Mexico and Texas indeed have an interesting history that I have done some reading about over the years Am I wrong about slavery being one of the issues? Without slavery cotton and rice farming would not have been liley if not impossible.
Dave K. said
You are right about that. So much to learn and so little time. Mexico and Texas indeed have an interesting history that I have done some reading about over the years Am I wrong about slavery being one of the issues? Without slavery cotton and rice farming would not have been liley if not impossible.
The cotton plantation economy had not been established in 1836, & rice farming was far in the future. Most of the early settlers were poor folk looking for cheap land, & poor folk don’t own slaves.
1 Guest(s)
