Note to readers: If you're not from the US and confused about the 20 degrees (I was), note that it is Farhenheit and not Celsius! So around -6°C, which is of course very cold!

(edit: when you're on the internet, better to specify which unit you use, your audience is international)

I mean -6°C isn't very cold either. Its not every year you see temperatures like that, but its also not exactly uncommon. We had -17°C (1.4 °F) and lower here in Germany. We had some problems here and there, especially the railway, but afaik there were no major problems regarding power outages and heating.

But obviously we're much more prepared for temperatures like this here.

I'm quite certain it's never -6 in your bedroom.

Sorry, misunderstood the original comment. I thought it was referring to outside temperatures

Sure, it isn't that cold when you have heat and proper clothing.

The power is out - there is no heat. For a lot of folks, this is more akin to camping without proper gear, during the winter, and without a fire.

There isn't much infrastructure to deal with snow and ice, either, nor are most folks going to be prepared to deal with frozen pipes.

The folks in Texas don't have the same sort of house insulation either: Since it doesn't get that cold, but it does get hot, the houses are designed to keep the house cool. And since this cold is very rare, folks aren't likely to have actual winter coats. What makes the cold tolerable for me - in Norway - is that I'm fairly prepared for it. They aren't.

-6 is really darn cold for the unprepared.

-6°C is pretty damn cold _inside_ a house.

20F / -6C indoors? Canadian here, mind blown a little. Are homes in Texas not insulated? They must be, you have really hot summers and run AC all the time..

Hope your power came back already. If not / or for another time: candles are great for heating a single room. Small, safe, but they make a difference.

What? That’s way below freezing and totally unsafe. Why don’t you sleep in your car? (WARNING: Make sure your exhaust is uncovered and you’re not in your shed)

> What? That’s way below freezing and totally unsafe.

How do you think people safely camp in cold climates? You can sleep safely at far far below zero in a sleeping bag.

In a sleeping bag which is rated for that temperature, sometimes cheaper bags are for like -5°C, which can be VERY uncomfortable already for +5°C.

Why would it be unsafe to sleep? They are inside the house so they are protected against the elements.

I'm pretty sure sleeping in your car would be more dangerous just because of the discomfort leading to worse quality sleep and fatigue.

(Just to make it clear I didn't mean to downplay this. Obviously to survive in your house at -10c you do need preparations which I understand many people don't have not being used to these temperatures. It's easy to forget as someone who lives a bit further up north that it's not a given that people have thick air tight walls and heavy down filled blankets to help them through. So to answer my own question: It would be unsafe because they might not have the things they need to be safe.)

dude, go to the office. Its too cold to sleep in those conditions.

> Its too cold to sleep in those conditions.

I don't understand - how do you think people camp in cold parts of the world? Of course you can sleep in those conditions.

IF you have the gear for it.

I think the chances of random families in TX having 0 degree cold weather camping gear are low.

I've found that it's much easier to sleep in this temperature than the rest of the day. You just bundle up under several blankets and it doesn't feel that different. Living in a 30 degree house does take some getting used to though.

You've never been winter camping?

A texan? I didn't buy anything below a 20* sleeping bag until I started camping in the desert and even 20* was super low for TX, most go with 40. I've got a -30 now but I never knew they went that low until I needed one.

Roads have ice so you might get hurt getting there

The major highways are pretty good but it’s snowing more tonight so it’s gonna take another day to clear up. By that time, it’ll be over 40 so power will likely be restored in short order.

20 degrees? Laughs in European. Until "Oh, °f for 'freedom degrees'" realised.

did not downvote, but

Dr. Fahrenheit was of course the famous European physicist who invented the mercury-in-glass thermometer.