Comments

Video – How We are Handling the Texas Power Outage and Record Low Temps — 27 Comments

  1. Glad you’re holding out okay. Thanks for being so honest about how rough it is for other folks and for sharing that it’s not easy even for you with all the preps.

  2. Am assuming improving cold preparedness systems is clarified after an event like this. Glad y’all are staying cozy, fed and watered. And thinking of your wife’s knee problem – sending warm vibes.

  3. I didnt know about you until a couple of years ago and have really enjoyed the two rewind shows I just listened to today; one about fishing et al, and the other about pawns. I passed the latter along to my 20 yr old daughter, begging her to REALLY listen to it. Thanks for what you do, and its good to be prepared.

  4. Thanks for letting us know your situation, Jack.

    Here in Austin, Texas (actually Williamson County) they are threatening to shut down our water supply, and cutting off our natural gas. The gas makes no sense to me. It’s a gas. How does it “freeze up” in the pipes? I’ll have to look into this more. I only know what my wife told me.

    See ya around.
    Alex Shrugged

    • I think the cold can affect valves and some are probably controlled electrically as well.

    • The best way to keep pipes from freezing, if keeping them warm isn’t an option, is to open up the tap so you have a slight drip. Moving water is the last to freeze.

      Also if they cut off your gas use caution when heating your home and cooking indoors with traditional camping stoves ie naphtha, kerosene. The fumes are deadly and odourless.

      It also reminds me of when the power went out during the big ice storm 20+ years ago, Generator theft was a big issue, keep them locked up when not in use

      • Just doing the ‘slight drip’ method has failed for many in my area, our houses and plumbing just aren’t insulated well enough for temps this low + power outages over multiple days prior to the really cold night robbing all heat from the house where the pipes are. Several friends and family have had frozen and burst pipes even with water running.

  5. Yes, this is a great time to be considerate of others that are less prepared and lend a helping hand. I wish I could help my family in Texas that have no power or water and no preps.

    • Yes. Because I have preps, I have shared with my neighbors. My wife and I have been running low on firewood. No danger, but low, so my wife put out a call and a woman with plenty of wood came by and delivered more wood to us. No charge. We have great neighbors.

      They are good to me and I am good to them.

      My next-door neighbor is a little old lady. Her son is stuck in Houston and can’t get back to her. My wife and I have been looking out for her. Yesterday I took out her trash because I was afraid she would try to take it to the big trash can by herself. My wife delivered hot soup to her.

      When the power went out across the street we invited our neighbors to come over for movie night. They didn’t stay the night although we offered. We gave them flashlights. (They didn’t even have a flashlight!)

      They have been good to us all through this pandemic, buying groceries for us and helping us when we needed it. I was glad to return the favor.

      I’m not saying this to make myself look good. I am using my example to make a suggestion to all of you. My preps are for more than just my own survival, or as I’ve heard Jack say, “It is easier to feed your neighbors than it is to shoot them.” 🙂

      Indeed. It is a lot easier. It will also be a lot easier afterwards because there is always an “afterwards” in any disaster. I want my neighbors to know that they can depend on me, and I’m glad to know that I can depend on them.

      Alex Shrugged

  6. Jack some thoughts on the future freezepocalypse AAR show. I REALLY enjoyed your 1,000 episode hearing from people who’ve changed their lives cause of the show — we were on a road trip from Boston back to Portland (ew!) Oregon in 2012 and stopped by your place in AR for a visit (really enjoyed that btw) and we did almost nothing on that 3-month long road trip but listen to TSP, and that was the most impactful episode to listen to. Was thinking that would be a great format for an AAR show — solicit calls from listeners for their experiences, how preps helped, lessons learned, etc; 3-5 minutes max per caller something like that…you know how to do this stuff better than me. On that note in large part from listening to you over the years as I’ve grown (I was 19 when I first heard your podcast) I went from living in downtown PDX and doing various “normal” things to now owning and living on a quasi-silvopasture timber/ranch plot 160 acres an hour outside town. Besides that journey being an amazing experience the recent 2020/21 shenanigans have really highlighted what a difference the decisions we’ve made relative to our friends and family has been. We didn’t get it as bad up here in PNW as you guys in TX but we are living in our own little snowpocalypse right now, and again the difference in lifestyle choices and decisions is very apparent and reaffirming of our path. Hearing stories from others during these times I think would be really valuable to your audience.

  7. I’m so sorry for you all having to deal with this. I wish I was close enough for a few of those very stranded people to come be cozy in my little home. Glad your family is ok so far.

    • A lot of people are going to be looking at new lifestyle choices after this, your contribution to that is solid. People are going to start to realize that some form of simplicity solves a lot of modern problems. I expect 2021 to be a big year for you increasing your following.

  8. Thank you for your comment about having grace for people unprepared for this unprecedented event.
    We were negative double digits in KS. We get that occasionally but not for a week straight.
    Stay warm.

  9. And I forgot to say this but I’m saying this now, “THANK YOU JACK!”

    It is because of you that I was prepared for this pandemic (if that is what it is), and I was prepared (although less so) for this unusual snow storm in Texas. If it weren’t for you, I would be huddled in fear and trembling. Instead, my wife is proud of me. (I made her put that in writing. 🙂 ) And I am helping out instead of being a drag on my neighbors’ resources. I am a man instead of a little boy begging for more.

    Once again, Thank you Jack. You kicked me in the butt enough times to actually make me do something. It feels good.

  10. We’re doing ok up here in OK. Had to use the generator a bit yesterday, as Canadian Valley was doing some rolling blackouts. Only 2 hours needed for backup. Definitely recommend a power transfer switch. Makes things so much easier going to alternate power sources. Esbit camp stoves come in handy as well. Nothing like a hot cup of coffee or tea waiting for the generator to come online.

    Good luck and stay warm down there in TX. We’re almost through this global warming problem for the week.

  11. This is one in the series of “Jack, you’re an idiot”.
    First you had to go and get me out of debt, then, like the idiot I am I followed you and Steven Harris’ advice and built a battery backup.

    I thought I had you there. The darned thing sat undisturbed for about 5 years.
    Well, you got me on that one too.

    Wife and I both need CPAP machines while we sleep. 12 hours without electricity (at night, of course) 4hours with power on to recharge ( measly 6 amp charger), and another 16 hours off. (Again, mostly at night). The durned thing provided power for lights (LED bulbs) and medical devices through through whole thing.

    Now, power has been on for about 6 hours, and it’s back on the charger.

    You know what that means? Now I have to go and buy a 15 amp charger.

    Jack, You are an idiot. Keep up the good work.
    Shawn, MSB since 2016

  12. We still have so many friends in Texas and an elderly cousin on the coast. The power outages have been so odd in how they have fluctuated across the state. Everyone seems to be doing ok for the most part but it is a challenge regardless of how much you plan ahead. I bet the folks that bought our place in Texas are really enjoying that whole house generator right now and the extra large propane pig. They have been w/o power since Monday in that area. It’s good to be prepared and recognize there are still limits to those preps. Take care all….hope this resolves soon with minimal loss and damage. We are all good up here in the north country. Power stayed on and our biggest task was plowing out our private road and clearing areas for stock to get to feed and water. Its good to have power equipment. The skid steer we bought after Hurricane Katrina was well worth the hassle of moving it up to Idaho from Texas.

  13. The best wishes to all those who are in Texas and elsewhere greatly affected by this erratic temperature condition and its consequences. Very much an emergency situation for many. Great time to help out you neighbor as needed! RED ALERT on iceagefarmer.com website – use bitchute if you can. There are current food and feed supply problems and long term effects to food supply because of the effects on feed, livestock and associated crops. iceagefarmer.com

  14. Interested in your take on the systemic infrastructure failures that occurred here. I expect (and am already seeing) nothing but blind finger pointing and ad-hominem attacks about who and what is to blame. From what I see there is plenty of blame to go around here and there were issues and failures from every energy source (including nuclear).

  15. Jack, Glad to hear you are ok. Your from PA, otherwise Id offer my cold weather prep advice. Just make sure people dont heat their homes with a gas oven as I’ve seen suggested online.

  16. Glade you are doing well.

    This is my first winter as a full time RVer. I’m stationary in northern Indiana. I’m doing a lot better in this cold snap that I thought I would be