Texas freeze turns grid failure into a federal disaster

A February 2021 winter storm and cold wave crippled Texas and much of the central United States, causing prolonged power outages, burst pipes and deaths from cold exposure, carbon monoxide and medical failures. NOAA reported the event became the costliest U.S. winter storm on record, with more than 210 deaths in Texas alone and 262 deaths overall in its CPI-adjusted database. President Joe Biden approved federal disaster assistance after Texas requested help, making grid failure a disaster-aid problem as well as an energy-governance failure.