Deadly winter storm knocks out power leaving millions of Americans freezing without power.
Nature reminds us that elections really do have consequences. Did you Congressperson really vote against spending your tax dollars to improve the power grid? But wants to give your tax dollars to their wealthy donors as tax cuts?
Large parts of both countries are under winter weather alerts. The US National Weather Service said that over 200 million people - or roughly 60% of the US population - are under some form of winter weather advisory. The storm has brought damaging winds and freezing temperatures that can quickly lead to frostbite. More than 1,400,000 people from Texas to Maine had no electricity as intense winds damaged power lines.
President Biden's Infrastructure Bill proposed investing to improve our power grid, roads and bridges. Republicans forced the bill to be slashed and 206 Republicans voted against the bill.
Check this map for real time weather conditions based on data from the National Weather Service - overlaid with the Republicans who voted against the Infrastructure Bill.
Elections have consequences
It's your tax dollars
Politicians get their salaries from your tax dollars. They are supposed to use that money to improve your lives. Not reward their wealthy political donors. It's that simple, but gets lost in all the noise and drama. Unfortunately it takes a severe winter storm that leaves millions of Americans without power in freezing cold conditions, to remind us that political votes do matter.
This map combines real time weather updates and advisories from the National Weather Service along with details of how congress voted for President Biden's Infrastructure bill that would have invested in improving America's power grid and infrastructure. Storms will happen, but it makes sense to invest in infrastructure to reduce the impact of weather conditions.
Putting the two data layers makes it easier to understand how these Republican votes hurt their communities and the people who voted for them. A map makes it easier to connect how they voted against improving the power grid with why you are now freezing in the cold.
National Weather Service
Provides weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.
National Weather Service (NWS) Headquartered in Silver Spring, MD to six Regional Headquarters: Eastern, Southern, Central, Western, Alaska, and Pacific; to local Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), River Forecast Centers (RFCs), Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs), and National Centers nationwide, NWS employees are working to support all aspects of keeping the public safe from weather, water, and climate hazards and meeting the NWS mission to protect lives and property, and enhance the national economy.
Severe Arctic storm
The Arctic air, strong winds and an associated bomb cyclone could be deadly to anyone caught outside — and it's causing travel chaos on the roads and in the air during the holiday rush. As of Thursday evening, about 325 million Americans were under winter weather warnings and advisories for heavy snow, frigid conditions and other winter weather hazards, stretching from the Pacific Northwest across the Plains and all the way South to the Gulf Coast. "The National Weather Service's Watch Warning graphic depicts one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever," the NWS stated in a forecast discussion, calling the event "historic." - Axios
Add some sizzle with a GIF
This GIF was created with the free iMovie and ezGIF apps. It summarizes Republican priorities at a glance and adds animation to the static map that was created with ArcGIS Online.
TakeAway: Demand your elected official spend your tax payer dollars to improve your life with better infrastructure and services - rather than use your money to give tax cuts to their donors.
Deepak
DemLabs
DISCLAIMER: ALTHOUGH THE DATA FOUND IN THIS BLOG AND INFOGRAPHIC HAS BEEN PRODUCED AND PROCESSED FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE, NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CAN BE MADE REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, LEGALITY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION. THIS DISCLAIMER APPLIES TO ANY USES OF THE INFORMATION WHETHER ISOLATED OR AGGREGATE USES THEREOF.
Visually Speaking
