Winter storm brings many issues in its wake

Many Freestone County residents were without electricity, water, internet, and phone service during the winter storm. Even this week, some residents are facing issues with their electricity and water as well as no internet and phone service.

“Nothing in this county over the last nine days was provided by the government. There was no water, no warmth, no food, no manpower sent from those making the big decisions for our state or our country,” Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said on Saturday night. “Freestone County has made it thus far because we the people in Freestone County get the job done.”

Some residents were without electricity for hours while others were out for days or even the week, and some even longer. The power outages were due to the ice and snow causing downed power lines and trees. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) entered emergency conditions and initiated rotating power outages at 1:25 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, as well.

All hotels in Freestone County were at capacity during the winter storm as well. The warming centers located throughout the county lost electricity too, giving residents no place to go to stay warm.

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