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Hundreds of thousands of Texans continue to endure freezing temperatures without electricity after a cold snap decimated its independent power grid, which wasn't sufficiently winterized, booting energy sources of all types offline.
Every county in the state was put under winter storm warnings earlier this week, urging Texans to refrain from driving on the icy roads unless absolutely necessary. Untold numbers of residents are without water due to frozen pipes and with no avenues for a hot meal.
The situation in the Lone Star State remains dire, especially for unhoused Texans and others without emergency resources and no means to get them due to dangerous road conditions.
Hour 62 of no power in central Austin: One of my neighbors walked to 7-11 a couple hours ago and found a dead woman… https://t.co/svwaf9Yauk— Summer Anne Burton (@Summer Anne Burton) 1613600640.0
This is how cold it is at my Apartment. As a Texan, yes, I'm certainly not built for this. I don't even care. https://t.co/FMt8imglJp— 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ☩ (@𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ☩) 1613436492.0
I just want everyone not in Texas to know that we are not ok. I’m going on 48 hours with no power. Now I don’t have… https://t.co/obpaWlrm53— Laura Gorsky (@Laura Gorsky) 1613592390.0
But as his constituents endure these frigid temperatures without heat, food, or water, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was spotted flying to Cancun, Mexico where the weather is a sunny 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ted Cruz is either on his way to Cancun or some poor schmuck is on his way there for plastic surgery so he doesn’t… https://t.co/QL5D7KjHeP— Claude Taylor (@Claude Taylor) 1613644691.0
After some debate on whether the man in the viral photos was actually Cruz, the Senator's "Come and Take It" mask was the same one he wore for President Joe Biden's inauguration last month.
Sen. Ted Cruz likes his “Come and Take” mask so much that he wore it to the inauguration and on the plane to Cancun… https://t.co/YSengvRsPD— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1613626467.0
Ok, at first I didn't think this was ted cruz, but this person has the same mask as the senator. Did Ted Cruz fly… https://t.co/dZM4Fszu3d— Keith Edwards (@Keith Edwards) 1613619084.0
The Associated Press later confirmed the man at the airport was Cruz, and now reports are trickling in that Cruz is returning from the trip early due to the backlash.
Here’s the upgrade list for this afternoon’s flight from Cancun to Houston. Looks like @tedcruz is on his way b… https://t.co/IfC7cAFylx— Jake Sherman (@Jake Sherman) 1613660968.0
The Senator is facing widespread rebuke from his constituents in Texas, his colleagues in Congress, and Americans across the country.
In crises like these, members of Congress play a critical role connecting their constituents to emergency services… https://t.co/4dqc09lBva— Julián Castro (@Julián Castro) 1613665332.0
After the George Floyd uprisings in Minneapolis, when thousands were struggling to find food, my office and I held… https://t.co/uISx3DlD1i— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1613661667.0
In the middle of an unprecedented, statewide crisis, Ted Cruz not only thought it was chill to hop on a plane to Ca… https://t.co/kXSOzjcUEr— Evan Sutton (@Evan Sutton) 1613665714.0
Wow, @tedcruz doesn't care about his community and is using his wealth to escape major devastation? Tell me youre R… https://t.co/aY5mkO6VXw— CHRIS KLEMENS (@CHRIS KLEMENS) 1613665334.0
Ted Cruz simply leaving his constituents behind to suffer and die while he enjoys himself is a preview for what all… https://t.co/qPNrqGNvRd— first-mate prance (@first-mate prance) 1613665783.0
Turns out that seeking refuge in another country when a natural disaster hits home is not a bad idea after all. Right, @tedcruz?— Erika Andiola (@Erika Andiola) 1613665381.0
It doesn't look like his early return will redeem his vacation.
Well that was quick @tedcruz. Were you giving a Ted Talk on how to abandon your constituents during their moment of… https://t.co/hEMzZ1rVfT— Tom Perez (@Tom Perez) 1613664076.0
Hey @SenTedCruz! We're rationing bottled water to keep enough for baby formula. We're just grateful to have heat un… https://t.co/IbQgq2HoRA— Leah Greenberg (@Leah Greenberg) 1613661544.0
Cruz is on his way back, at which time he’ll probably claim he went to Cancun to avoid windmill cancer that happens… https://t.co/4X8414VMQ8— Angry Staffer (@Angry Staffer) 1613662231.0
UPDATE (2/18/2021, 1:38 PM):
Senator Cruz has issued a statement regarding his travel to Cancun, claiming that his daughters asked for a vacation since school was out. Cruz claims he was simply accompanying them to the destination and is flying back to Texas Thursday afternoon.
Read below.
New Statement from @tedcruz: https://t.co/0WMni5O9R1— Vaughn Hillyard (@Vaughn Hillyard) 1613671829.0
According to Edward Russell of Skift, Cruz's return flight was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was rebooked around 6 AM on Thursday.
Spoke to a source at United Airlines, Senator Ted Cruz rebooked his flight back to Houston from Cancun for this aft… https://t.co/bCX3iWyeIW— Edward Russell (@Edward Russell) 1613667748.0