Winter Storm Shut Down Houston, Tx

[True Grit]

We have staff down in Houston and at first they told us they couldn't come to work because there were icy patches on the road. Huh? What? Then we realized overpasses were closed but before we realized that they took a few hits from us. That's partly due to the last time they had SOOO much snow they sent us a picture of a snowman. You could see the grass through the snow and behind the snowman it was ALL green from them scraping up enough snow for the snowman. They were like, "Look at ALL the snow!"

So cute.
Houston summers would prostrate me though..

that is my tongue sweating.

 

[Baymule]

You northerners would DIE down here in our hot humid summers that last from spring to summer to fall. When we DO get a winter, it is only for a week or so. Ya'll can keep your snow, I take hurricanes any ol' day. They blow in, tear around for about 12 hours, then they blow out. YOUR winters last from fall to winter to spring.

 

[piecemaker]

We are 1/2 between Houston and Dallas in Centerville. Last nights snow was pretty to watch but it could of gone away by the time I got of work this morning. Texas weather is great last week it was over 70 for a few days then below freezing a few days later, go figure. I lived in Idaho for 10 years and I will take a Texas summer any day. Give me 90 over 40 any day

 

[Judy]

I grew up near Chicago and moved down here to escape ice and frozen feet. I also get amused at southerners trying to deal with cold. You can't even plow down here due to the warning bumps in the lane markings.

I'm not very happy with the heat, either. Maybe Hawaii would suit me....

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

These darn native Texans....

The power company suddenly forgot that winters can get cold, so we had rolling blackouts Monday because there were not enough working power generation plants. What a bunch of weaklings! Russians laugh at Minnesotans for having such warm balmy winters. Wonder what they would think of a power plant that cannot generate electricity when water starts to freeze.

And we just lost power again.... Sheesh!

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
Actually Black Ice is a big deal down here. It occurs more easily here than in Michigan and the native Texans have no experience driving on ice.

I won't go out in this weather for fear of getting crunched by a newbie ice road driver. And my gate froze shut.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Oh trust me, we aren't doing a whole lot better over here in Arkansas. And as a pizza driver, Supberbowl is already enough "fun" without slick roads. There are exactly 3 drivers in our store who know how to drive in weather, and have vehicles that can handle it. Maybe 4 if you count the guy who is a part time mailman, but his battery died today

 

[Tala]

Chicken.Lytle :

I won't go out in this weather for fear of getting crunched by a newbie ice road driver. And my gate froze shut.

Ah, my coop is frozen shut. Next year we shall install a gate on the driveway so it can conveniently freeze shut too. Great idea!!!​

 

[Mattemma]

I was hoping my dh would get a load to a southern state,but I see it is not much better down that way. He says it is actaully worse because the states do not have much salt. Hope it all melts soon. Keep safe!

 

[Baymule]

We can't plow the roads because we don't have snow plows. We don't have salt trucks. We do have trucks that spread sand on the overpasses in an attempt to get a little traction on the ice. That only encourages the idiots to drive faster.

We don't have goose down parkas with fur lined hoods. We don't have all the winter regalia necessary in the colder regions, so when we do see a real winter, we really don't know what to do with it. And that's ok with me. I just can't imagine snow and ice that didn't go away in 3 days or less. I don't have to live up north to know I wouldn't like digging my car out to go to work. I love looking at the pictures some of you post where you have dug trails in the yard for your chickens. So cute. Especially since I don't have to do it. I love the beautifully scenic pictures of your barns, homes, sheds and coops draped in pure white snow. Then I go outside and get in my car and drive anywhere I want at whatever speed I want in the glowing sunshine. So when we get slammed, by our standards, a winter storm, yes we are paralyzed by it. Our neighbors to the north can laugh at us because when we can't deal with the outer fringes of Ol' Man Winter, it means our northern neighbors are getting slammed double and triple from what is normal. I tip my hat to those who deal with winter with such graciousness, who take it in stride and go about their daily lives while Mother Nature throws snowballs at them.

The plumbers make a tidy profit out of these winter squalls because in the south, it is not customary to build basements. Never had one. We pour a concrete slab and anchor our homes to it. Or we stack concrete blocks and build our homes off the ground to take advantage of cooling breezes in the summer. Pipes are exposed. They freeze, they bust. (shrugs) It's how it is. My home is on a slab with plumbing run through the ceiling-not a good idea either. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=433964 My next home will be built off the ground 4-5 feet, windows and doors will be aligned symectrically to take advantage of breezes to keep from turning on the air conditioning for as long as possible. BIG electric bills.

The sun is out, the sky is a beautiful clear blue, it will climb to 60 degrees today, then back down to 28 tonight. We will get above freezing for the next few days, before dipping back down in the 20's at night and 40-50 fegrees in the day. Warm thoughts to my friends still in the grips of Ol' Man Winter.