The Texas Freeze was a good test of your Preps. What did you learn? What did you miss? Please share.

One time

From what I saw between bursts of outright laughter down here...was no one had enough buckets to flush their toilets.

Its amazing how much you take a toilet for granted until it wont flush.

I love my clay pot heaters, was wishing texans had some.

I learned i should have bought plumbing repair parts first at the forecast of artic cold

Also i learned that Texas is run by idiots on every level

Peoples homes destroyed, water shut off, animals died, people died

All because these idiot companies were not forced to winterize

No forgiveness

None

we actually fared pretty good. Where very well prepared. Still had supplies, but were able to go out yesterday for milk and bread.

But I have learned to make bread, soap, candles. I actually have not bought commercial soap in years.

We were lucky we did not completely lost our electricity, it came on and off every day.

this!

I tried the clay pot / tea light set up. Was not impressed.

To learn
5*

I learned that my camper stove kit (its quite small really for backpacking) and it uses denatured alcohol for fuel... works great for boiling water for coffee with no elec. I could also cook with it if needed. Barely takes any fuel to heat up some water to boiling.

- more non-tox candles
- more spare batteries
- warm blankets
- spare fuel tank
- always have spare 32 packs of water stacked somewhere
- people are annoying when you can hear them through the walls in apartments
- dont get a car if its not a 4x4 or AWD

Water filter should be on list

Well, I have two sawyers in my bug bag for absolute backup, but I also had a Brita filter that died literally right before the storm lol.

I learned I needed more alcohol. No, not to drink. Isopropyl. Needed more to pour into w/s wiper resv and also in spray bottles to spray onto frozen locks and door handles. I ordered 2 gallon today from Amaz. Cost $60. WTF?

I have a Berkey and extra filters. The problem was frozen pipes-no water.

Place plastic bag on floor.
Pull pants down & crouch over bag.
Poop.
Wipe if needed, usually NOT needed when pooping like that.
get up, pull up pants, tie up bag & throw it outside.

Power went off for 12 hours when it was ONE degree, lit fireplace and my water didn’t freeze. It came back on long enough to recoup and warm up then another 6 hours off still in the teens. My water never froze and neighbors showered over here so I definitely did some things right. I’m selling the electric stove and get a gas one. Also didn’t have fuel for the Coleman.