Austin Man Says Don’t Go ‘Crazy’ At H-E-B Stocking Up Ahead Of Storm: ‘This Is Not 2021 Snowpocalypse’

If Austinites have learned anything after surviving a handful of severe weather emergencies in recent years, it's how to overreact and mob grocery store aisles before bad weather hits. That's the truth behind a recent viral TikTok video that pleads with Central Texas residents to be reasonable in their preparation for an unexpected winter storm.

The clip from creator Taylor Austin (@tayloringaustin) calls out some of the more egregious hoarding and over-buying tendencies that tend to take hold in Austin during its one yearly occurrence of severe cold, snow, or ice.

“You do not need to get crazy at the store this week. You'll be OK. There is no need to go to the store and freak out and panic-buy all the toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, eating utensils,” he says in the clip that has been viewed more than 8,500 times. “It's a day and a half here in Austin. Like, we'd be lucky if we see a trickle of snow. All right? Just don't drive. Just don't be out on the road unnecessarily. Just don't be dumb, and you'll be fine.”

Commenters on the clip acknowledged the point of acting a little more reasonably this go-around, but many were also quick to bring up the hardships Austin residents experienced during severe weather events in 2021 and 2023.

“Listen, we’ve been living through a lot of “phenomenon” and “once in a lifetime” events these days AND we didn’t think 2021 was going to be what it was, which is why NO ONE WAS prepared,” one commenter noted. “And if you think the power grid has improved in its ability to support demand with the growth and data centers that have developed here since 2021, please! People need to not panic but prepare because the government (as we saw in 2021) is not going to save you.”

Winter Storm Uri Memories Linger

It doesn't take much to get anyone in Austin who experienced the utility and infrastructure failures of the February 2021 storm to talk at length about what they endured. Most of the city experienced multiple days without power, and large sections also had a total loss of running water, while temperatures sank into the single digits.

The cause of most of the problems can be traced to the larger failure of the state's power grid, which was almost entirely the fault of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Following the statewide failure, the agency immediately faced intense public and governmental backlash, leading to the resignation of several board members, the firing of its CEO, and state-level legislative action mandating significant reforms to ERCOT’s governance and the weatherization of power generation facilities.

While ERCOT leaders say there's little to no chance of a similar catastrophe this year, commenters on the clip support those taking extra precautions just in case.

“We are not worried about snow. It’s the ice and not having power,” one of them asked. “I mean, do you have a gas stove, boo? Then you better go to the store, buy water and something you don’t need heat to cook.”

The consequences were somewhat less serious but still quite memorable from a 2023 winter storm that saw ice accumulations pull down power lines throughout Austin, with some neighborhoods taking more than a week to get back online. Those power outages were a major factor in the city's firing of its city manager shortly thereafter, and the utility system was also working to improve its outage notifications to customers.

Reasonable Preparations

Besides the shaming seen and heard in the video toward possible hoarders, local officials are advising residents to make appropriate preparations to handle any disruptions to power or other infrastructure.

Historically, severe winter weather in Central Texas can result in a varying menu of utility and infrastructure failures. On top of power outages that the area is well familiar with, residents should be prepared for:

• Water issues: Extremely cold temperatures can cause exposed pipes to burst, leading to water loss in homes and city-wide boil water notices.
• Transportation hazards: Icy roads, particularly on bridges and overpasses, could be extremely dangerous, disrupting supply chains.

Advisable preparation steps include:

• Stocking provisions: This includes non-perishable food, bottled water (at least 1 gallon per person per day), and essential prescription medications.
• Preparing to stay warm: This means ensuring you have enough blankets, sleeping bags, and a non-electric heat source, like a fireplace. Also, charge all electronic devices and have a battery-powered radio with extra batteries.
• Protect the pipes: Outdoor, uninsulated pipes should be wrapped in insulation, towels, or newspaper. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, and make sure to know how to shut off your water main in case of a burst pipe.

While many people saw Tayloring Austin’s reasonable and level-headed advice, photos posted on Instagram and Facebook on Wednesday showed shelves at various H-E-B grocery stores empty or barely stocked. Clearly, Austin is back in peak winter weather mode, even if it only lasts for a little over a day.

@tayloringaustin

Patch reached out to the creator via direct message and comment on the clip. We’ll update this if they respond.