By: Jailyn Mitchell

Texas has been hit by some of the most brutal weather they have ever seen. While snow is common for Texas around this time, there was no preparation for what they are going through right now. On Feb 16, Texas residences and businesses went through the first of many power outages due to a massive snowstorm. What was only supposed to be a “rolling” or quick outage turned into an event that has yet to end.

Families woke up to freezing homes and zero power in their neighborhoods. Some Texans found themselves driving hours to visit family members also without power but with a functioning fireplace. Others scrambled to book a hotel to have a warm place to bathe and eat. Even hotels eventually also lost power intermittently, leaving guests to worry about how they will stay warm.

Many were forced to book low-budget motels to have any housing after the pipes had burst in their homes. Those who could not find a vacant hotel or motel boiled the water they did have to run themselves hot baths. Grocery stores with lines going on for miles began running empty on supplies, starting with water and non-perishable items.

As all of this is happening, the U.S. Senator of Texas, Ted Cruz, was caught boarding a flight bound for Cancun, Mexico. This infuriated the residents of Texas as they watched someone responsible for leading them to get on a plane to go on a warm, sun-filled family vacation. Cruz returned to Texas less than a day later due to the amount of backlash he received for leaving his people behind. Cruz stated upon returning that he regrets his decision to go on vacation while Texas is in a crisis.

As of Feb. 19, Colorado City Mayor, Tim Boyd, announced his resignation via a Facebook post after telling residents "only the strong will survive and the weak will perish."

After interviewing those in the middle of battling the elements, they gave their exclusive stories of what they have endured.

Gabi - Rosenberg, TX

I had been reading about what was about to happen. My husband didn’t believe it and thought I was overreacting. I was researching what to do with the house, water supply, pipes, etc. I was terrified of what to do to prevent busted pipes. But I was finding conflicting information.

Finally, I decided to turn off the water supply and let the faucets run dry. We lost power. I held my 10-month-old baby on my chest to sleep for the night. It got to the 40’s in our home. My baby was dressed in 4 outfits, a sleep sack, hat, and mittens sleeping on my chest with a down comforter on top of us.

Usually, I don’t sleep with my baby for fear of suffocating her, so it wasn’t comfortable for me, especially with a heavy blanket. I barely slept that night. The next morning we woke up. My baby at the time was on antibiotics for a UTI. The antibiotics gave her diarrhea, so I had to bathe her 3-4 times a day to clean her properly. But with the temperatures so low in the house, I couldn’t bathe her for the risk of hypothermia.

I started calling hotels. But I didn’t have much charge left on my cell phone. I texted friends who had power asking them to call for me. After calling 12+ places I found a motel with 1 room left. I begged and the lady on the phone agreed to save me a room since my baby was sick. I begged my husband to let me go try to make my way to the hotel to see if it was safe to get there. He was worried I would get stuck or get in an accident. I insisted and I made it there. When I got there, it was clearly a bad place. A couple that for sure was on drugs tried to come into the lobby without masks. I am very conscious of COVID so I was concerned and I told them to put on a mask before coming in. They seemed to not understand me, even though they spoke English.

I paid for the room and went back home to pack up and bring my baby and husband. Inside the motel, although it smelled bad, was fine. They had warm running water for us to bathe our child. Our dog was at home. My husband was supposed to sleep at home with the dog but he said he didn’t feel safe with us staying at this motel alone in an unsafe area so we decided to sneak in the dog. I stayed up all night making sure the dog didn’t bark while holding our baby on my chest so she wouldn’t wake up the other guests crying.

The hardest part was not knowing what to expect. Not having guidance from our elected officials about what exactly to do to prevent damage. Being told we would have rolling blackouts and then losing power for over 30 hours. Then being told not to wash out clothes but our clothes were all dirty, especially with a sick baby who was going through a lot of clothes.

I haven’t received any assistance. We have spent two nights in a cheap motel, $120, plus lost hundreds of dollars’ worth of food in our fridge and freezers, spent hundreds on canned and bagged food in case the power loss continued. Ted Cruz is a coward who only thinks about himself. He’s pathetic and he doesn’t represent Texas. I’ve done more for my neighbors during this crisis than Ted Cruz has.

Brittany - San Antonio, TX

I woke up Monday morning with no power and by 11 am the pipes in the apartment above mine busted. During that time we had no power, no cell service, roads were closed no one in the office, etc. We had finally gotten power around 2:30 pm and went to Castroville, TX to stay with family who didn’t have power but had gas appliances, so we were luckily able to stay warm by the fireplace and whatnot. This weather has only brought us closer to each other and to appreciate the little things like having water.

We didn’t get power back until today (Thursday) and had to boil water to take baths and the water was touch and go. Not having power and the whole state not being prepared about this was the hardest part and not having any type of signal to get help sucked as well especially for me since I’m a single parent. I have thankfully received assistance from my parents. What Ted Cruz was a slap in a face, we trusted him, and during a time what we needed him most he dipped out and made sure he was nice and cozy while the majority of the state suffered.

Miranda - Dallas, TX

I drove down for surgery and became stranded due to the entire city infrastructure collapsing. Food places ran out of food, emergency services couldn’t respond initially. We had to scramble to find a different hotel after our first lost power and water. We have had to take what was only supposed to be 4 nights in a hotel and extend it to 8 days. My 4yr old has been with her grandparents up in Arkansas and they have had to handle every with her in our absence. She is ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) so this is a lot for anyone to handle when they aren’t accustomed to it on a day-to-day basis.

Lights out in the hotel room. Photo courtesy of Miranda.

The hardest part of having to experience this weather has been the complete uncertainty that anything is open or operational. Not knowing if we would lose power at any moment, and when we did a few times at the second hotel, the fear it wouldn’t return. Lol also having to make food downstairs in the lobby with their microwave because the second hotel did not have a microwave in each room. We haven’t received any assistance, thankfully we got a military discount on our hotel room but that is the only form of help we have had. It’s been a large financial blow we didn’t plan for. I think what Ted Cruz has done is disgusting and shows just how overwhelming out-of-touch politicians are with the people they supposedly speak for.

These people have had to endure is almost unfathomable, seeing the freezing families as they attempt to stay as warm as possible in huddles. In this time, many organizations have set up shelters, food drives, and financial assistance where they can. Below are ways that you can help these people and their families.

Monetary Donations

Austin Mutual Aid: Austin’s mutual aid fund is raising money to help book hotel rooms—the price of which have skyrocketed in some areas—for city residents stranded without power or shelter amid freezing temperatures.

Feed The People Dallas: Dallas-Fort Worth-based mutual aid organization is asking for both monetary donations and donations of critical supplies to help support those in need in marginalized communities. They’re also accepting volunteers if you’re nearby.

Para Mi Gente: San Antonio-based mutual aid fund is accepting donations to help pay for health care needs, groceries, emergency housing, and other supplies.

Rice Mutual Aid: Mutual aid fund organized by Rice students in Houston is accepting donations to help Rice community members in need.

Food and Water Donations

Feeding Texas: The network of Texas-based hunger relief organizations has a searchable database of local food banks you can donate to. Check to see what’s nearby.

Central Texas Food Bank: This food bank accepts food donations at one of its facilities or one of its partner agencies. It also accepts monetary donations and volunteers.

Houston Food Bank: Houston-area organization accepts monetary and food donations.

Supplies Donations

Houseless Organizing Coalition: The coalition works with Houston’s houseless community. They are asking for supply donations including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, water and food to distribute among the city’s houseless community.

Austin Pets Alive: Austin-based animal shelter is asking for donations of supplies including water, diesel fuel, gloves, hand warmers and flashlights to be delivered to its Town Lake Shelter. They are also accepting monetary donations.

Lucha Dallas: Dallas-based organization is asking for donations of winter gear including jackets, hats, gloves, scarfs and blankets. It’s also accepting monetary donations to help pay for hotel rooms for those in need.

Cooperation Denton: The Denton-area advocacy group is asking for material donations including batteries, flashlights, clothing and warm weather gear. It’s also accepting volunteers to help distribute supplies.

Front Steps: Austin-area nonprofit is holding a drive to help provide blankets for the city’s houseless community.

The Lone Star State is Freezing Over