Beleaguered Texas hospitals with no water evacuate patients amid winter

AUSTIN, Texas - After a deadly blast of winter weather overwhelmed the electrical grid and left millions of Texans without power, hospitals in the state are also facing the additional stress of water shortages, crowded emergency rooms and even being forced to evacuate patients. Record-low temperatures damaged infrastructure and pipes, seriously jeopardizing drinking water systems in the Lone Star state. Authorities in Texas ordered 7 million people — a quarter of the population of the nation’s second-largest state — to boil tap water before drinking it. Sponsored Links Secure a UK Company Name Now Your Company Formations Some hospitals, already contending with COVID-19 patients and vaccine distribution, were also impacted by the winter storm’s havoc on state power grids and utilities. In Austin, hospitals dealt with a loss in water pressure and heat. St. David's South Austin Medical Center said Wednesday night that it had lost water pressure from the City of Austin. Since water feeds the facility's boiler, the hospital was also losing heat. Hospital officials were working to evacuate some patients to other area facilities and said they were distributing bottles and jugs of water to patients and employees. Officials added that they were working with the city to secure portable toilets. "Because this is a statewide emergency situation that is also impacting other hospitals within the Austin area, no one hospital currently has the capacity to accept transport of a large number of patients," said David Huffstutler, CEO of St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. In southwest Austin, officials with Ascension Seton Southwest Hospital said they too were facing intermittent issues with water pressure, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The hospital was rescheduling elective surgeries to preserve bed capacity and personnel as a result. At Houston Methodist, two of its community hospitals did not have running water but still treated patients, with most non-emergency surgeries and procedures canceled for Thursday and possibly Friday, spokeswoman Gale Smith told the Associated Press. Emergency rooms were crowded "due to patients being unable to meet their medical needs at home without electricity," Smith said. She added that pipes had burst in Methodist’s hospitals but were being repaired as they happened. An ambulance is pictured outside of St. David's South Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo credit: FOX 7 Austin) Texas Children’s Hospital’s main campus at the Texas Medical Center and another location had low water pressure, but the system was adequately staffed and patients had enough water and "are safe and comfortable," spokeswoman Jenn Jacome said. FEMA sent generators to support water treatment plants, hospitals and nursing homes in Texas, along with thousands of blankets and ready-to-eat meals, officials said. In an "urgent call to action," the Texas Restaurant Association said hospitals in the state were "in serious need of food for their staff and patients" and said it was working to coordinate food donations. On Tuesday, more than 4.4 million Texans were without power. The number has fluctuated throughout the week as the blame shifted between the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), state government, and the utility companies. Fewer than half a million homes were still without electricity as of Thursday afternoon, utility tracker PowerOutage reported. Shopping centers remain lit against blackout near Houston A winter storm caused widespread residential blackouts across Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, February 16, while some areas remained lit, causing confusion among residents. Some lost power due to the weather conditions, while others were under a rotating outage initiated by ERCOT, which manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million customers. RELATED: With no power for 4 days, many residents warming up with frequent trips to outside vehicles While power had slowly been restored to more Texans, many people were still without safe drinking water. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he expects that residents in the nation’s fourth-largest city will have to boil tap water before drinking it until Sunday or Monday. Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros on Thursday urged residents to conserve water amid shortages. He estimated that "tens of thousands" of people were without water and said residents should reach out to friends and neighbors until the city could set up water distribution centers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged residents this week to shut off water to their homes, if possible, to prevent more busted pipes and preserve pressure in municipal systems. RELATED: Houstonians should prepare to boil water through the weekend The weather also disrupted water systems in several other cities, including New Orleans and Shreveport, Louisiana, where fire trucks delivered water to hospitals and bottled water was brought in for patients and staff, local station KSLA-TV reported. This story was reported from Cincinnati. The Associated Press contributed.

Echos of Summers Past

This is the time of year that I become somewhat melancholy. The summer is beginning to wind down, and I am on the threshold of starting a new school year. It is almost as if I am straddling a high brick wall, hoping I don't fall off. On the left side of the wall, I am very excited about going back to school, establishing a new schedule/routine, meeting new eager faces, and all of the challenges that the job brings. The right side represents the lazy days of summer with, vacations, lounging by the pool, afternoon naps (which would def. have to be one of my favs.), and the ability to just "be". Ultimately, I use this time to refresh my mind, body, and soul. Also, the summer is my time to spend with my kids and reconnect with them.
So now I stand before the door that will open with full force tomorrow, leading me into a new school year. My thoughts drift to the wonderful memories that I have made this summer and the times that I have shared with family and friends. It makes me think of all of the summers past and how wonderful the times were then. Those were the summers that responsibility was minimal and fun was optimal! One particular summer was the summer when I turned 16. At the time, my mother was on a "let's go camping" kick. We had started this a few years before by camping out in a tent. Fortunately, we had graduated to a pop-up camper. After dealing with the deflating mattresses, leaking tents, and washed out campsites, I welcomed the new addition. As a result, my mother made reservations at a campsite in the Great Smoky Mtns. called "Smokemont" It was a clean, woodsy, and had tons of hiking trails. Of course, we always had to set up the tent, even though none of us wanted to sleep in it any longer. That summer we brought tire tubes with us and old tennis shoes so that we could go tubing down the creek that ran through the site. I had never been schooled in this recreational sport, so I jumped into the creek, hopped onto the tube and started floating. It was ice cold...even in July! As I floated down the creek, the currents began to pick up and move at a faster pace. Intuition made me grab the sides of the tube and hold fast. Eventually, we made it to the entrance of the campsite which had to be at least a mile away from where we started. By this time the little, meandering, creek had turned into what I remember as a rapid! The next thing I recall was a drop the size of Niagara Falls. As my tube plunged down the steep watery slope, I lost my footing on the tube and my body was thrust into the ice cold water. When I finally surfaced, I realized that I had lost something very vital to my existence at the time....my glasses! Scrambling around, we all searched the waters with great speed. I just knew I was toast! Fortunately, my younger brother retrieved them and all was right with the world. That day when I was slowing making the climb back to our campsite, I contemplated whether or not I would ever do that again. How could I not? When I think back to that time, it reminds me of how I am facing the new challenges of this coming year. Yes, I am apprehensive, but I am willing to take the challenge because I enjoy doing it.
The summers that have past linger in my mind as reminders of what a beautiful time we can have discovering who we are and what makes us the person we have become.
I hope to use this past summer as just that....

A Trashy House Party!

I am the ultimate get it done kind of gal! Some would deem this as a wonderful quality, but on mornings like I had today, I would say it is not!!!
So, last night as the mist and drizzle began to fall (again) my sensitive sniffer decided that the garbage was beginning to smell just a little bit on the "rank" side. My smart and efficient self took the heavy load, which consisted of some really nasty Ki-Ki diapers, and tied it up tightly. Having no trash pick is a bummer, but being able to take it to the dump any time you want is not bad either. As a result, I opened the door and placed the load on the porch with intentions of taking it with me in the morning and getting rid of the trash. Spraying the house with room freshener I turned into bed and sniffed the nice aroma that permeated throughout the house, glad to be rid of the stinky smells.
Much to my surprise I got up this morning and realized that I had been left with a very nice present on my front porch, front yard, and all of the surrounding areas. I guess and pack of "dawgs" (as Randy Jackson would call them) had a house party in my yard last night. The trash was thrown here, there, and everywhere. Now the smell was even worse, because I had to pick it up once again! Totally gross!!!
Anyway, it is all picked up and the trash is now gone. I hope?!
Maybe next time I will be a little more diligent and stick the bag in the plastic can so that we don't have a repeat.

Up,Up, and Away!

It seems like forever ago since I was able to sit down and pour my thoughts out onto the computer screen. Life is just not as condusive to spend the time writing when you have three children, a busy job, and things that you have to do from day to day.
As I sat out on the playground today with my students I enjoyed the warm, breezy weather that we were having today. My thoughts drifted off to the weekend and the plans I have made to take the kids kite flying. The kite selections are out now, and I have purchased Christian an Elmo kite, Caroline a dreaded (Hannah Montana) kite, and Joshua a (Blue Angels. . .wishful thinking on my part) kite. Much to my disappointment, the weather may not hold out for kite flying because there is rain in the forcast. Maybe it will hold out???
Last year the kids focused on running with the kite and trying to get it to lift off of the ground. Of course with me running and holding the kite so it will lift made it easier for them. The funny thing was watching their eyes and the excitement on their faces each time the kite got off of the ground and into the sky. It was almost like watching them take off in their life's journey. Trying something new and needing the help of your parents or friends to get going. Finally, you are able to do it by your self and you are flying high and with out any help at all.
On Saturday, I will be there to help them lift off again. In some ways it would be neat to see them do it themselves, but I so enjoy being there to help them and provide them with the support that they need.
As Caroline and Joshua said laster year. . .Up...Up....and...Away!!!

I Go Back. . .

I have a very well kept secret. This is something about me that only few have heard. Some would call it a fetish and others would call it somewhat weird. I think it is kind of neat. When I was a small child, my mother would berate me for smelling my food at the dinner table. For some reason, I had this need to smell my food before I ate it. As I got older, this progressed into me casually smelling the clothes of the person next to me, whether by hug, or by the wind drifting it in my direction. So, now that I am older, (much in fact), I can catch a smell and tell you exactly what it is. . .granted, I have smelled it before. The neat thing is that the smell takes me back to different times in my life, just like hearing music does. Here are some of the ones I think of most. . .

*Baby Magic bath soap. . .My kids hair
*Olay. . .Snuggling up to my mom
*Aramis. . .My dad
*Polo Cologne/Cutting Crew Song/Hands to Heaven. . .Always remind me of my first love
. . .even to this day I turn around to see if it is him
*Fried Chicken. . .My Granny's house
*Fried Dough. . .State Fair

There are so many I can't name them all. Most will let me remember the past and how wonderful the time was. In a way it is a blessing to be able to use my senses to feel the things I do when "I go back". Some, are very hard.
My newest song is the one "I Go Back". . .by Kenny Chesney
It talks of a friend who passes away and he remembers him when he hears a specific song play. When I hear that song, I think of my cousin, Richard, who passed away last year from a Brain Tumor. He was in his twenties and was a remarkable person. I think of him and the life he would have led had he lived. I think that he would have been pleased to know that a song like that would remind me of him.

So, as weird as it sounds, I do "Go Back" and think about my life and the choices that I have made. If I could only develop an aversion to the smell of brownies and baked goods so that I wouldn't love them so much!

The Legend of the Dove

The cool night air settled upon the meager home and drifted into the rafters creating a chill unto all the inhabitants. As the little pigeon puffed out her humble feathers and tried to drift asleep that night she was awakened to the sound of murmurings down below. For the past few days, her caretakers had been discussing a journey that would take place very soon. She would just as soon stay perched here in the safety of the well built wooden framed house, than to try and make the journey with them. She had lived here all of her life and rarely left because of the shame she felt about her unkempt appearance. Her feathers were not vibrant like those of the parrot's or peacocks, and she did not have the mesmerizing voice like the finches or sparrows. As she listened closely to all that was taking place below, she made the decision to step out of her comfort zone and accompany the couple on their trip. Her love for the couple was great because of their love for her. As she recalled the times that she had landed on the various tables, chairs, and cabinets that he was making, he would quietly and humbly feed her morsels of food that gave her life. "Yes," she thought, she would quietly go with them to lend a familiar song or a friendly perch. As the journey began, at times she thought that she could not make it to the end. Then, at the time when she thought she could go no further, she peered below and saw that her friend was going through a trial much more difficult than she could ever endure. As the donkey clicked down the rock worn path, her friend said nothing, knowing that the journey would be well worth her pain. After what seemed like years of traveling, lights appeared in the distance. She could tell that her friends were very happy that they had reached their destination, because the trip had taken a toll on everyone. Tears slowly crept down her friends' faces as they went from inn to inn trying to find a place to lodge for the night. With each passing moment an intense pain grew inside her friend. In desperation, they were told that they could find shelter in the back of one of town's inns. In a matter of seconds the couple found their way to the small shelter which housed many of the goats, sheep, and cows from the town. As they settled down, the pigeon flew to a familiar wooden rafter and watched at the activity below. A warm inviting light caught her attention and she looked up to see the most glorious star that she had ever seen shining directly on them. Immediately, her attention was drawn to the heavenly glow that shown around them all. Hosts of angels were round about them, arms outstretched and singing the most beautiful songs that she had ever heard. Her heart soared as she saw them and listened to them, secretly wishing that she had a gift such as this to give to her friends below. A still, small voice rent through the night time air that drew the attention of the angels, animals, and the small humbled pigeon. As everyone gathered around to see the small bundle swaddled in tiny cloths, everyone bowed their heads and began to kneel in humble adoration. She know that something great was taking place here on this silent, Holy, night and she wanted so desperately to show her love and appreciation for the newborn King. What was she, but an unattractive, ill-sounding bird? Before she could stop her feet, she accidentally slipped off of her rafter and fell into the straw beside her king. Trying to get her balance she lifted her wing and touched the babes' tiny cheek. As He curled his tiny hands around her wing and smiled into her eyes, she felt a warm glow throughout her entire body. Love beyond measure flowed through her, along with never-ending grace. As He let go of her wing she stretched them out and noticed that she no longer had the dull, ugly colors of a pigeon. She was washed as white as snow on a cold winter's day. As she peered into His eyes she saw her reflection and recognized that she was no longer the same. She had been transformed by His power and love. No longer was she able to contain her joy, and a heavenly sound was sent forth from somewhere deep inside her being. As she sang and rejoice with the Heavenly hosts, she knew that her heart would forever belong to Him.

Top Ten List

After a wonderful weekend at Myrtle Beach with my
com padres this past weekend, I have decided to post our top ten
scrapping list in honor of our trip.

TOP TEN REASONS WE LOVE SCRAPPIN'
AT MYRTLE BEACH. . .

10. Having a wild and crazy slumber party with all of your best friends.
Did I mention no husbands?

09. Sleeping late (some with ear plugs) and not having to wake up to kids jumping on
you or someone asking you to cook breakfast.

08. Eating out and having a great conversation with friends. All the while, you are able to chew, swallow, and savor the taste of your food and not have to jump up to pick up forks, toys, cups, or food off of the floor. No potty visits or even the frequent brawls that happen when your kids somehow get in to a shouting match at the table.

07. The electronic Hula Dancer at Margaritaville. Yes, she does move!

06. Rockin' with the Crocodiles and the old geezers at the Crocodile Rock!

05. A midnight visit to the ER with a very sick 28 week pregnant woman. I know what you are thinking. . .why is this wonderful? The sick part was really bad, but the lady we met there was hilarious. That would be reason number 4. . .

04. Conversations with an upstanding member of society in the ER waiting room at 1:00 am. Discussing how this woman's boyfriend hit a pole while walking into a bar, and being left in the road. She of course, had already ordered a drink before realizing that he was missing. We really met a F-F-F-Friend. . . :-) That's putting it nicely. FNA

03. Krispy Kreme and Starbucks at will. Except when one member of our posse is suffering from adverse side effects from her nausea medication.

02. I gotta go to the bathroom! Was that iceberg lettuce???

And the number one reason we love scrapping at Myrtle Beach. . .
Drum roll please. . .

01. Move outta the way. . .its a gas leak!!!