Living in Texas means living with the chance for disasters to strike. Hurricanes ferociously slam the coastline with wind and rain. Fires tear through homes and agricultural land. Freezes take down power lines and power plants, as notoriously occurred in 2021, when a widespread winter storm forced power cuts to millions on the state’s electric grid.
Climate change is worsening much of the weather we face, making it more likely that Texans see heavy rain like the deluge that fell last summer in the Texas Hill Country or the kind of hot, dry fire weather that primed the Panhandle for catastrophic blazes the year before.
Still, there are important ways Texans can prepare for disasters — something I learned the hard way covering them over many years. I now keep a disaster bin in my closet, which I refresh and update every year. I make sure to stock up on water and non-perishable food (canned soup, rice cakes and raisins are my favorites!). I also make sure to have supplies that can help me to stay safe and comfortable without power and in some cases with limited mobility if roads are dangerous.
