This is Part 11 of Fire & Ice published on ActiveRain on January 9, 2025.
Air is what draws the singing fire spreading flames of destruction whether the weather is winter or not. In freezing cold temperatures air pressure continues to build causing the breaks in ice crackling in near or below zero temperatures. The warning signs broadcast from local media is never to be ignored during cataclysms of raging fires out of control, drought, severe ice storms, flood, tornado, or hurricanes. No matter how fast you run, you can't outrun the wind from severe freezing or raging fires.
Ice in not nice on tires or roads. Here in Texas, black ice is the most dangerous roads to attempt to drive on because the roads look shiny black and inexperienced drivers or people in a hurry driving too fast for weather conditions cause multiple pileups or danger to other people and/or their property.
One of the most dangerous weather conditions is black ice because you can't see the ice on black roads. Black ice is invisible to the naked eye and causes more accidents and unexpected crashes, especially on bridges. From snow to sleet, to freezing rain, drivers can't predict the weather. Just a small amount of drizzle in freezing weather can cause black ice. Driving at night is most dangerous especially when there are oncoming cars with headlights or passing streetlights. Drivers may not even see the ice below their tires. Not all tires were made for snow or ice. Tire company's sell all-season tires but winter tires will slide on ice. No matter where you buy your tires or what type they are, do you want to risk your life or other people's lives betting on tires or driving on black ice? Even if you do purchase all-season tires, traveling too fast or trying to pass is very risky It doesn't take much before the driver is out of control.
Hands or feet with frostbite are extremely dangerous. I grew up in Chicago walking to school both grade and High School. During elementary school days I forgot my gloves and kept switching the school bag between right and left hands with one hand in the pocket. By the time I got to school I had frostbite. When the body constricts the blood to try to keep the hands and fingers warm the skin begins to form ice crystals under the skin. When I took my coat off, I felt the pain in my hands and saw my left hand was pale grey and swollen. The teacher took me to the rest room and told me to hold my hand under the warm water. The school nurse called my mother to say I had frostbite.
There were no school buses or regular buses to take me to school where I lived in Chicago. Other people walked (many long distance) to catch the bus who depended on public transportation. My uncle was one of the unlucky ones who waited too long because the bus was late due to snow and ice. He ended up with frostbite toes and had his toes amputated.
People don't think there are dangerous ice storms in Texas, but occasionally it does happen. The worst ice storm I experienced along with many other Texans was the Ice Storm from February 11 - 20, 2021. I went to sleep on the evening of February 10th and woke up about 2 a.m. I did not know if I was dreaming or dead because it felt like I was lying on a concrete block of ice. I had a mattress with gel inside that was designed to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. There were no warnings on the tags about not good for temperatures below freezing. The mattress froze. What I experienced was a real nightmare and I was glad to awake, or I would have frozen to death. Also, during the entire duration of the ice storm, my electric power went out which caused the temperature in the house to go below the limit on the register. When the electricity goes out in a house that is all electric, you have no electric kitchen stove, lights, furnace, charging devices, and even the electric garage door does not open. Many people cannot afford generators and generators weren't even known to most people in 2021. I still can't afford a generator.
It really does pay to pay attention to weather alerts. Safety alerts and warnings and common sense can save a life, including your own.
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