AUSTIN, TX — Early February freezing temperatures combined with rain produced extremely heavy coatings of ice on power lines and on trees that broke their branches and in some cases toppled over, bringing the power lines with them. This left hundreds of thousands of people without power not just in Austin, but throughout Central Texas. Due to the extensive damage to the power lines and the work involved in restoring power, it could be many days before power is restored to residents. As of this writing, in Austin, 36,000 people and businesses still had no electricity. Families spent the weekend searching for heat and light and throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of spoiled food. “’ The only thing I have is water. No one should have to go through this,” said P. D. Perry Jr., 79.’” (The Texas Tribune)
Many people were already living outside without shelter in frigid conditions and were in danger from falling branches. Now the people without power who can’t afford heated shelter are also in need of protection. The city has provided some warm places for people to go during the day and night. However, people who live outside, often in tents, do not want to leave behind what precious few possessions they have in order to go to a warm place, but staying outside in the cold is life-threatening. People with no transportation have a hard time getting to the shelters. People who are undocumented might be afraid of presenting themselves at a government facility. While the many hundreds of thousands of people living in homes without power are suffering, this crisis beams a light on the precarious living conditions of people who are forced to live outside in the elements all the time.
The purpose of government should be to care for its people, but we know that our economic system, capitalism, is designed for profit for corporations, not for human needs. While some in the city government struggled to cope, the government at all levels is not organized around human needs. Texas has a MASSIVE budget surplus, but the fascists who run the state of Texas don’t ever fund what we need – improving education, protecting children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and more. They talk about saving fetuses but actual children are being abused. The loss of power from the ice storm has been a big burden to many. The poorly maintained state-wide electrical grid — which is still not fixed — failed two years ago, leading to the deaths of hundreds. Texas is a huge leader in its blatant refusal to fund people’s needs while ensuring the state’s wealth flows to the corporations at the top.
A ray of hope is provided by the interlocking web of people and organizations that are constantly working to give aid to those in need. When a crisis occurs, they shift into high gear and attract others who want to help. Solidarity like this can be found throughout Austin, completely outside of government institutions, because people helping one another is the only way we can survive. This kind of mutual aid network can be found all over our country, in cities large and small. It gives us a glimpse into the kind of society we need and deserve and can have if we organize ourselves to create it.
We’ve already shown we have what it takes to do the work.
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