Winter Storm in Texas Leaves Millions Without Power


In response to the massive winter storm that hit Texas on Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott deploys the National Guard and other resources Monday afternoon as millions continue to deal with power outages.
Abbott had previously issued a disaster declaration in all 254 state counties, in which he described the “imminent threat” of property damage, injury and deaths. The governor urged Texans to stay home and minimize use of electricity as the state’s power grid and roads struggle to cope with the weather. Texas has already seen storm-related accidents after Thursday’s 133-car pileup on an iced-over interstate that left six dead.
The governor has since deployed the National Guard and other resources in aid to storm efforts. It will conduct welfare checks and transport Texans to the 135 warming centers. In addition, resources have been sent from the state departments of public safety, military, parks and wildlife, forest services, transportation, and emergency medical task force.
ERCOT recently announced that some customers should have power restored Tuesday afternoon.
House Speaker Dade Phalen (TX-R) is calling for a joint legislative hearing between the House State Affairs and Energy Resources Committees to review the statewide blackouts.
He tweeted: “We must cut through the finger-pointing and hear directly from stakeholders about the factors that contributed to generation staying down at a time when families needed it most, what our state can do to correct these issues, and what steps regulators and grid operators are taking to safeguard our electric grid.”