I don't know where this guy lives in Texas, but the temperatures that we saw during this storm was well below the winter temperatures that we normally get. Although I think it is unfortunate for all those many people who had pipes burst, the typical method for handling this is similar to what Ian described above. I don't know why this guy didn't think of this, but many people were caught with the same problem. In my area in Houston, the temperature dropped to the mid teens fahrenheit, and just north, in the single digits F, which is extremely rare. I prepared my pipes and outside water faucets because it was well publicized that the temps would be very well below normal. Preparation is key for a 120 year event like this. Again, this was revealed to everyone on the TV news channels, well in advance of this occurrence. You have to be aware that, in my area, the temperature rarely gets below 32 F (0 C) and if it does, it lasts a day, rarely more.
However, all I see is criticism and hate in the comments, not a bit of empathy. I don't understand this attitude. Perhaps someone could explain. Many people suffered during this extremely rare occurrence, blaming their ignorance is hardly justified.
As far as the comment about Texas being energy independent, this is true. One of the problems is that Texas produces more energy than it normally needs, and ERCOT had started selling power to neighboring states, which caused a power imbalance. Also, the electrical infrastructure is not really designed for such an ice storm as this, causing other technical problems and rolling blackouts. Once the temperatures climbed back above freezing, the blackouts stopped in my area. I hear from friends in other areas that they still do not have electricity after 4 days, but the storm is over now and things should be getting back to normal.
I for one am not looking for sympathy or empathy, never have, even in the most dire situations, but I do have sympathy for those that suffered and I hope that their lives and homes will be back to normal soon. Some children and elderly suffered, and some died in all of this and I wish them and their families nothing but the best.
The temperature here now is a balmy 66 F.
EDIT: One of the many problems in an ice storm where the infrastructure is not designed to handle is the roads. Many of our interstate highways have bridges and overpasses that will gather black ice and this cripples commerce. This is one of the reasons that grocery stores are empty. As the wreck in FW/Dal shows, it is disastrous to get out on the road during an ice storm in Texas, as rare as they are.