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Comment by throwaway9870 | Hacker News Reader

What I don't understand is that it sounds like the utilities were unprepared for the cold because the windmills and gas lines froze up. But the same tech is used in Canada fine because it sounds like they plan for the cold and have equipment options designed to deal with ice, etc. So, you might immediately think - ah, climate change strikes again! But then I hear this is only a low temp in the last 30-40yrs. Who doesn't design a system to work at low temps that have occurred in the last 30-40 years?

So, the question is - is this system poorly designed? Were corners cut that should not have been?

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People may claim to prepare for a once a century event but since it only happens once a century it’s hard to determine if it’s actually prepared for.

Half the houses don’t even have gas heat - because it’s never been needed. What we have here is asking to a earthquake hitting the Midwest - sure it’s known it could happen and there are plans for it - but they’ve never been tested.

I just saw something that said these are the lowest temps in the last 30 yrs. That isn't once in a century!

I think the combination of the lowest temps in last 30 years, with sustained mucher colder temps than average over last 4-5 days with overcast sky (so there is no residual heat from mild Texas winter day), and that 50% of the state's wind turbines were made inoperable by freezing rain a few days ago might make it a once in a century event.

There were 3 'once in 500 year' floods in Houston from 2015-2017. It makes no sense.

I have a friend that lives in an area that drains into the Chesapeake bay. He is doing some changes to his property and is not allowed to do anything that would increase water run-off. OK, I said, that seems quite reasonable. Then he tells me it is for 12in of rain in 24hr. Wow, ok, that is a lot but I guess it could happen. Yes, it is a once in a 100yr storm. Then he tells me the rule is you have to handle that, and be prepared for another one within 48hrs. What?? Any water retention has to be drained within 24hrs so that if another storm hits it can be handled. So two, once in a century storms in a total of 72hrs. Kind of changes the definition of once in a century?

Depends on when you start counting your century. Once a century does not mean literally once every 100 years. These are certainly the lowest temps of this century so far.

Yeah I imagine any once a century event is pretty hard to prepare for. Sure you're covered generally for X, Y, Z but it can play out in so many other ways.

Texas can prepare for Canadian type cold weather but we don’t. I have lived in TX all my life and fondly refer it to the “blast furnace”. Weeks of 100F is what I am used to.

Most folks here don’t own winter tires for their cars. We don’t have car battery kick start kits like Canadians do. Many apartment dwellers only have electric heat. We are optimized for a semi arid plains climate. Optimizing for hot and cold is beyond the reach of most.

One thing I wonder about is all the wind turbines in Texas. If they get iced over and continue to rotate, does the ice cause the blades unnecessary vibration and structural damage?

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