As the Miami Valley got hit with its biggest winter storm of the season so far, a portion of the same system was hitting Texas even harder.
Basics for survival, heat and water, are now hard to come by in certain spots as millions suffer through the brutal cold without power.
Nearly a quarter of Texans are under a boil water advisory because of problems at treatment plants, including News Center 7 anchor Molly Koweek’s sister.
“It’s been a bit of an inconvenience,” Stephanie Koweek said.
She lost power at her Austin home early Monday morning and just got it back Thursday.
“We grew up in upstate New York, so I’m prepared to handle various snow and ice storms as I’ve lived through them for many years, but Texas is just not equipped the same way with plows and preparation and emergency plans,” Koweek said.
She is a physical therapist for a home health company. She and her co-workers have not been able to safely get out to see patients because of the road conditions. However, they are still checking in.
“Making sure our patients have food, water, electricity, triaging those that need to go to the ER as appropriate,” Koweek said.
The pandemic is only complicating matters.
“We are still in a Covid surge, coming down from the holidays, but still having many patients admitted to the hospital. And then additionally, many other patients without safe discharge plans, so that’s a little bit scary,” Koweek said.
One of Austin’s hospitals had to move nearly 300 patients after it lost water pressure and heat.
Koweek had a warm place to stay during this disaster.
“Thankfully my boyfriend has a gas fireplace and a gas stove,” Koweek said.
She knows others were not so fortunate, as they were not prepared for the winter weather the Miami Valley is so used to.