Waiting outside HEB. Not cold to me in upper 20's, and snowing but mass panic and hysteria.  

It's been a real learning experience down here. 

We lost power early Monday morning and got it back early Tuesday morning, only for it to be hit or miss Tuesday and Wednesday.  Most of our fridge contents spoiled. The first day we lost power we put them in a cooler on the porch. The second time, the power went out when we were asleep and I didn't get to them in time. We lost water early Monday morning as well since its powered by the well. We had buckets filled and bottled water ready, but I could have/ should have had even more. 

My husband and I have been working this whole time, and we were both gone when our main water line broke. Thankfully it broke to the outside of the house. Had it cracked another inch toward the house, the entire house would have flooded because it was gushing water for hours while we were gone.  It took going to five different hardware stores to get all the pieces we needed for the repair, but we were able to get water back to the house late last night. Last night was the first night we had both water and power since Sunday.  I finally got to wash my hair Wednesday after idk, 4 days? 

I will be so glad when this whole weather ordeal is over. We have had it rough but so many of my friends and neighbors have had it worse than me. Thankfully the one broodmare who was due on 2/14 at my moms has carried over due like she normally does. 

We are all good here in my part of the world but seeing and hearing about all of this is heart wrenching!  Like someone else said in these times things like this shouldn't be happening.  I realize that this is a very rare weather event but still you'd think they would have some kind of a backup plan in place by now.

My thoughts and Prayers are going out to all that are fighting this mess

Worse than this happened in '83/84 and again in 1989. We lost power due to heavy ice, but we always had water. And the power wasn't off as long. Here in South Texas ( King Ranch/ Corpus Christi)we were 11 days at 11 degrees or less. It rained and sleeted, no snow. Ice several inches thick. The Corpus Christi bay froze over as did all the stock tanks. My husband had to break ice with the backhoe do cattle and wildlife could get water. Still didn't have the problems with electricity or panic buying like we are seeing now. I want an explanation. 

So now we have an idea what life is like in Venezuela.

Scott where is this at?

HEB, Bastrop.  I couldn't get in yesterday or the day before because they closed the doors early, so I went in this morning and got in, but as you can see most things were severely picked over.  Very little meat.  No bread.  No eggs.  No Milk. No produce.  Hel! they even ran out of salt!  

People will never learn....the panic buyers. My brother law has a friend in Elgin.. he told us this morning in their small town, the Dollar General was open, the shelves are scarce.. he was standing in a aisle looking for something to eat.. there was 6 cans of beans left, he said he picked up 1 can and someone came up behind him, REACHED AROUND him and took the 5 remaining cans right in front of him... could you imagine!!! People are nuts... our dollar general is open but they are only allowing a few customers in at a time. They are very limited on supply. It's sad... we don't need to go to the store, thankfully,  we stock up typically once a month anyway on canned goods, dry goods and freeze breads, etc etc... Things are thawing out, roads are ice still though I'd say maybe 60% of folks out here got their power back and for those who don't,  neighbors are cooking and sharing hot meals, folks with good 4x4 trucks are making fuel and propane runs for everyone who can't go. Our community has been kicking butt! On our way back in this morning,  we noticed a truck off into a ditch... an old gentleman was trying to get to town for coffee.. he slid off the road. We went home and got our tractor and went to pull him out ... we weren't successful because there is so much ICE .. but I went back home and made him a huge thermos full of hot coffee.. we are all trying to help each other as much as possible out here.. the roads are dangerous,  and looks like we are in for another hard freeze this evening. I pray we hold power but I know we will be ok either way. We saw a pack of 7 large coyotes too, it was eerie, they were headed towards a pasture that had cows n calves so we called that hand that works for that outfit and they hauled butt out that way .. its just crazy around here. I had to drive our pickup back and I'll be the first to admit, I don't know how to drive in this stuff.. I almost slid off the road trying to get back onto our place... talk about a very helpless feeling.. I got stopped just in time before going over into the ditch.. scared me to death! I told my husband I'm done, not going anywhere in this . Driving extra slow too.... with this much ice, it doesn't seem to matter. 

Wow, this is just nuts. I hav'ent been in our HEB in Seguin, but I have heard its getting pretty bare, or it may look like the one in Bastrop by now.. I'm  pretty stocked up on the things we need. Have a freezer full of meats, veggies.. If you and Carol lived closer I would give you a couple dozen of eggs, my chickens are still laying..Have you checked your Dollar Generals, I know lots of people forget about them.. 

This is what happens in a natural disaster. Trucks can't get in to restock and people panic knowing this. Plus, our HEB was having to throw out spoiled food due to power loss. I got that info from an employee. 

Has your area been getting snow too? I cant believe that its still snowing here, this is just unheard of..

I heard a description on TV as parts of Texas looking like a third world country.  Now I can see why.  Every resource in the country should be focused on these areas without power and no one should be without food or heat for their families.  We're better than that.

This is my road.... not even recognizable 

I went to the HEB in Tomball and it was sparse in some areas but well stocked in others. 

This is the first time in my life I have been having to pick frozen mud mixed with ice out of my horses feet, I had my mini pony walking on balls of packed ice and my gelding with front shoes having balled up ice and frozen mud, I could not believe how hard this was to pick out. I was so worried about a bowed tendon on my gelding because of the ice that balled up on his front feet.

Brutal is a perfect word to describe it. Honestly the snow and cold temps were rough those first couple of days and I felt so terrible for the animals but the ice....THE ICE. Things had been harder but manageble until then. I went out yesterday to try to get some horses that are tuned out to get underneath an open spot in our barn. I threw hay out for them and they came up. I was pulling ice from their manes and tails and they were shivering. I wanted to shut the gate to make them stay in for their own good. I even went and grabbed some halters but they wouldn't let me catch them. I gave more hay and returned inside only for that very part of our barn to collapse completely minutes later. Thank god it didn't injure any of the horses that are stalled. My SUV is stranded in my driveway because I moved it out from my carport in an attempt to avoid the same fate as our barn..  the snow got sloshy and froze back hard..  roads and stores are closed, we were without power, water and cell service until earlier. I truly felt stranded and a little low on positivity. We've been through lots of hurricanes and tornadoes here but this is a whole different set of problems. Power is back today and we hope this stuff melts some tomorrow so we can get to town for supplies and begin cleaning up. Even though it feels a little hopeless, there's always so much to be thankful for. You guys be safe out there and if there is anything you need I hope you'll post. 

We got ice and a trace of snow, but we did have roads closed and highways due to icing on the overpasses and bridges. We have had rolling power outages and very little water pressure all week starting last Sunday. 

Use a claw hammer to knock off the ice on their feet.

For the "short" term .... After you clean out your horses hooves, apply a thick layer of vaseline or spray them with something like "Pam". 

Same here. Rural area.  Grocery store and Dollar Store food shelves and freezers have been empty - totally - for several days.  Gas stations have been sold out for days, too.  Our high today should hit 33.  We are so excited!!!