An unusually severe winter storm has left the state of Texas in the United States in a state of infrastructure collapse. Seven million people were required today (Thursday) to boil tap water before consuming it, after the collapse of the electricity grid in large parts of the country damaged sewage treatment plants that stopped working.
Local authorities are also on the verge of collapse and are trying to deal with the evacuation of the lag from the visible roads across the country, water distribution for residents left without running water or with polluted water and an attempt to connect the damaged electricity infrastructure. More than 20 people have died from hypothermia in the country.
Homeowners in suburban neighborhoods were seen trying to insulate the water pipes leading to their homes in blankets, in a desperate attempt to prevent the water from freezing and the pipe from exploding. The temperature in different parts of the country dropped to 18 degrees and the sudden demand for electricity for heating caused the electricity system to collapse in different parts.
President Biden has declared a state of emergency in Texas, a declaration that will allow for the allocation of resources and federal forces to assist the struggling authorities. Texas’ situation has worsened due to the fact that many authorities have been “starved” of the extremely low tax rate in the state and could not afford to fund alternative systems and the state of infrastructure has deteriorated over the years.
Sharp public criticism was also leveled at Texas State Sen. Ted Cruz, who documented a vacation at a private mansion in Cancun, Mexico, away from the cold wave and the severe crisis.