Chapter 1: The Dark Reality of Winter Storms

Greetings to all! Welcome to the weekly installment of "Dear Omar," where tech expert Omar L. Gallaga addresses your pressing gadget and technology inquiries.

We anticipated a blackout and had been braced for it for some time, but when it finally arrived, my daughters and I found ourselves momentarily speechless in the darkness.

At around 7:30 p.m. on a Monday night, many in Texas were experiencing the second day of what turned into an unexpectedly harsh winter storm. The power went out after many families had already lost theirs. While we were aware that rolling blackouts were part of the plan, the sudden loss of electricity felt surreal.

As we navigated through the dark, carefully approaching the table laden with candles, we entered a new world of silence—no television, no heating, just the sounds of our breathing and my children urging, “Dad! Dad! Light the candles!” It was as if we had been cut off from everything beyond the eight-inch-high snowdrifts.

Texas was caught off guard by a snowstorm that disrupted power, water, and other utilities for over a week.

The weekend leading up to the storm had already brought cold temperatures and some ice, but it was on that Sunday night that the full force of the storm hit. Children were thrilled with school cancellations and the novelty of snow, but soon the reality turned into a series of challenges. As a tech writer, the abrupt loss of electricity, heat, water, and internet access became a more pressing issue than the weather itself. With the recovery process underway in Texas, many have been curious about what it was like to endure such an unprecedented storm without our usual technology.

The term "unprecedented" might not fully capture the gravity of this storm. Texas has experienced significant winter storms before, including one in 1929 that blanketed parts of the state with 26 inches of snow.

What set this storm apart was our reliance on modern technologies and comforts—electricity for heating, connectivity for communication, and running water—which suddenly became critical challenges for millions in the state.

Chapter 2: The Role of Technology in Crisis

The first video, "Damien Rice - Cannonball - Official Video," captures the raw emotions of facing life's unexpected challenges. It serves as a reminder of how art can reflect our struggles, much like the winter storm did for many Texans.

As temperatures plummeted, many experienced rolling blackouts that provided brief reprieves of power. While I was fortunate to have some electricity intermittently restored, many others faced prolonged outages. Friends and family members were not just without power for a day or two, which would be inconvenient for anyone unaccustomed to sub-zero temperatures; instead, they found themselves in perilous situations as indoor temperatures dropped to freezing levels.

In our moment of crisis, we turned to our cellphones, hoping they would last us through the week. We rummaged through drawers for old LED flashlights and tried to conserve energy when power returned, turning off lights and unplugging high-consumption devices like TVs and gaming consoles.

As the freeze persisted, plumbing became another issue, with pipes freezing and bursting in many homes. Our focus shifted from the lack of electricity to the lack of running water. We were fortunate to be away from major urban areas, but by Wednesday, the water pressure began to decline, and by Thursday, we had no running water at all.

In preparation for the storm, I filled buckets and containers with clean, filtered water, a recommendation from the disaster-preparedness app Harbor. I was among the lucky ones whose water service was restored quickly, albeit under a boil notice, which mandated boiling all water before use.

Despite the chaos, technology played a crucial role in our communication. Schools and workplaces closed, and social media transformed from sharing winter wonderland photos to urgent updates on road conditions and power restoration efforts. Some innovative individuals, like my friend Dale Roe, even used their electric vehicles as makeshift heat sources.

But the true savior for many of us was the dependable power bank. As phone batteries drained and the severity of the situation became clearer, having a reliable battery pack turned out to be essential. Many Texans are likely to stock up on these devices before the next crisis, and it would be wise to do so in advance.

The second video, "Damien Rice - Cannonball Lyrics (HD)," reflects the emotional weight of unexpected hardships. The lyrics resonate with the experiences many faced during the storm.

The fleeting moments when power was restored became frantic races to cook meals, respond to work emails, and check in on friends. The full extent of the difficulties faced during the Deep Freeze will be revealed in time, but one thing is clear: the technology provided by utility companies failed us when we needed it most, and trust in these systems has been shattered.

As discussions around accountability for the lack of preparedness grow, it’s evident that the infrastructure in Texas needs significant improvements. The recent events serve as a wake-up call, highlighting vulnerabilities and the disproportionate impact on those least equipped to handle such emergencies.

As I await my utility bills, I can't help but feel anxious. My electric provider's variable-rate pricing means that even with rolling blackouts, I may face a hefty bill. With water usage spiking as pipes thawed, I join many in uncertainty over the financial repercussions of this crisis.

For those of us accustomed to a tech-driven lifestyle, it was a harsh awakening to find ourselves surrounded by silent smart devices, unable to provide any help in a life-or-death scenario. This experience underscored the reality that our reliance on technology can leave us vulnerable when we least expect it.