Texans Face Another Crisis: Water Shortage [Video]

• Following a harrowing winter storm and power outages, Texans are now faced with a water shortage crisis.
• Hundreds of thousands still have no water, while the millions who do were issued boil water notices.
• Rural towns are struggling to acquire water supplies while those in the cities are facing long queues for plumbing services.

It seems like Texas residents just can’t catch a break. Amid freezing temperatures during the winter storm, Texans had to deal with power outages and a surge in electricity rates. Now, they are faced with a water shortage crisis caused by burst pipes and damaged infrastructure.

According to NBC News, around 120,000 people still have no water service. About 8.8 million residents do have water, but they still have to boil them first for sanitation, according to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.

The state is trying to bring in more plumbers for repair services, but the demand is too high.

One resident, Rachel LaGrone Mello, told PEOPLE that most of her family members in the small town of Lott still did not have any electricity or water.

“There is nowhere to purchase food and water, and the roads are too dangerous for delivery trucks to travel,” she said, adding that many people still had no way to boil water for sanitation.

Mello continued, “All support that has been provided to this town has come out of the pockets of private citizens.” Her father himself paid about $1,000 to get three pallets of water for their town. While the office of Congressman Kyle promised him reimbursement, they still don’t know of their town’s plans.

“These small towns do not have emergency plans. At all,” Mello says. “This is a massive disaster, and I don’t know how to explain that to people who aren’t in it. Rural Texas is in big trouble.”

Big cities like Austin and Houston have recently lifted their boil water notices, but residents still question the water quality.

Houston realtor Amy McGee told PEOPLE that the water feels “slimy” after coming back on Saturday, but she still had “the best shower” after living “in survival mode” for a week.

Meanwhile, private tutor Lisa Brooks said that her house’s main pipe burst, forcing her to shut down her water supply for days. Upon calling the plumber, she learned that more than 200 people are still in queue. She had to use melted snow and pool water for household chores.

“You can’t get water at the grocery store right now,” she added. “Supply trucks can’t get in to replenish the grocery stores right now.”

According to Gov. Greg Abbott, helicopters, airplanes, and trucks have since distributed around 3.5 million bottles of water.

During a press conference on Sunday, Abbott said, “We are making great progress in our recovery efforts from this winter storm, but many Texans are still without water, food, and other supplies — which is why the state is stepping up to make sure Texans have the resources they need to provide for their families.”

Source: People