Thread by @TexasTribune

A devastating winter storm hit Texas one year ago this week.

Millions lost power. Hundreds of Texans died. People were traumatized.

Many Texans still question the reliability of the state’s power grid and want assurance that it won't happen again. bit.ly/3JzO5mN

2/ Cynthia Pierce was one of the hundreds who died in the 2021 winter storm. She was an ex-hippie from Lubbock with a lifelong love for learning.

Her family still has questions after she froze to death in an assisted living facility. bit.ly/3H1om4S

3/ Some Texans are still reeling from the aftermath of the 2021 storm. One estimate says the storm caused roughly $295 billion in damage.

The extended freeze severely damaged this family's home:

https://twitter.com/TexasTribune/status/1493626315865477120?s=20&t=FRFl2_U-ZCAxO-9pOiH5AQ

4/ A major cause of power outages last year was the inability of power plants to perform in the extreme cold.

Producers of natural gas, which was the main fuel source for electricity generators in 2021, were unable to deliver enough fuel to power plants. bit.ly/3oY0Wap

5/ Texas leaders have pushed efforts to make the grid more reliable since last year’s storm.

But experts say its reliability hinges on the state grid’s ability to adapt to and help prevent climate change by cutting carbon emissions. bit.ly/3rTjcUm

6/6 Scientists say if climate change doesn’t slow, the severe weather that’s already straining Texas’ grid will likely become worse. bit.ly/3rTjcUm