TX - 75-100 Car Pile Up, Fort Worth, at least 5 dead, Feb 2021

[AlwaysShocked]

It is such a shame that people did not know to slow down when it is that cold outside because of the chance of ice on the highway. Especially on an overpass which would freeze more quickly.

Perhaps as a means of prevention, a "cold/snowy driving" section could be added to the educational requirement prior to getting a driver's license? And/or announcements and reminders broadcast on the TV and radio stations about driving in freezing weather.

I've wondered about the lack of education about the frozen pipes situation also. Up here in the North we know to keep our faucets running just a little - even just a strong drip - to keep pipes from freezing. It works quite well. We also know that if a pipe does freeze and burst to immediately turn off the water at the main valve, not to just let it run.

Education does not cost all that much. Yet other than saying how cold it is, how many people are without water or electric, etc. I've not seen any type of information on the Texas TV reports to give people practical help in dealing with this crisis.

On our stations here in Pennsylvania they give practical reminders and tips for caring for your animals, avoiding frozen pipes, etc. when it is super cold outside. For example: If it is not frozen, you have many gallons of good water inside your water heater that can be drained.

In any case, it is a darn shame what has happened and my thoughts and prayers are with anyone affected.

 

[nrdsb4]

We of course knew to keep our faucets running during the recent cold spell in Texas. Still, one of our copper pipes ruptured in 3 places. Fortunately, we have a shut off valve to the plumbing in that particular room, so we did not have to turn off the water to the entire house, thank goodness.

Unfortunately, many people couldn't turn off the water to their homes because the shut off is at the street and requires a special tool. If you didn't know about that or didn't have the tool or didn't know how to get it done using other tools (I only knew because I looked it up online when I saw people on NextDoor freaking out that they had a burst pipe and didn't have the water turn off "key"), you had a long period of water running into your house.

Education on this, as you say, is desperately needed. Freezes of this kind are very rare in Texas, particularly in South Texas. When I saw that the entire state was suffering below freezing temperatures, I was really stunned. For the entire state to be so cold at the same time is just so so rare.

With climate change, we cannot continue to assume that this will be a once in a decade occurrence. Planning and education are going to be key here.

 

[LadyL]

Video of the Texas pile up shows nearly a mile of wreckage - CNN Video

seeing that fedex truck crash and all the crushed vehicles is just terrible