Ree and Ladd Drummond Went 12 Days Without Running Water

The Pioneer Woman shares how her family coped with a winter storm-related water outage on their Oklahoma ranch.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Ree Drummond, known as The Pioneer Woman, recently experienced a two-week period where her family's rural Oklahoma ranch was without running water due to a winter storm. Despite the inconvenience of not being able to cook, clean, or bathe, Ree and her husband Ladd, along with her brother-in-law Tim and his wife Missy, found creative solutions to get by, including making nightly trips to a nearby house, dubbed "Sister House," to shower and do laundry.

Why it matters

Ree's story highlights the unique challenges of living in a rural area during extreme weather events, where basic utilities like running water can be disrupted for extended periods. Her ability to adapt and maintain a positive attitude despite the hardship provides an inspiring example of resilience for her readers.

The details

The water outage was caused by a chain reaction of leaks and frozen pipes in the local rural water system, impacting dozens of residents in the area. Ree and her family were unable to cook, clean, shower, or even flush their toilets for nearly two weeks. To cope, they relied on bottled water, paper products, and nightly trips to a nearby house owned by Ree's sister Betsy, where they could shower and do laundry.

  • The winter storm that caused the water outage lasted for several days in early February 2026.
  • Ree and her family were without running water for approximately 12 days.

The players

Ree Drummond

Also known as The Pioneer Woman, Ree is a blogger, author, and television personality who lives on a ranch in Oklahoma with her husband Ladd.

Ladd Drummond

Ree's husband, who helps run the family's ranch.

Tim Drummond

Ladd's brother, who also stayed at the "Sister House" during the water outage.

Missy Drummond

Tim's wife, who also stayed at the "Sister House" during the water outage.

Betsy

Ree's sister, who owns the "Sister House" where Ree and her family were able to shower and do laundry.

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What they’re saying

“Just a minor inconvenience or two!”

— Ree Drummond (thepioneerwoman.com)

“Now again, nothing is the end of the world. Just a temporary pain.”

— Ree Drummond (thepioneerwoman.com)

What’s next

Ree and her family will continue to monitor the local water system and prepare for any future weather-related disruptions to their water supply.

The takeaway

Ree Drummond's story demonstrates the resilience and adaptability required to live in a rural area, where basic utilities can be vulnerable to extreme weather events. Her positive attitude and creative problem-solving provide an inspiring example for her readers on how to cope with unexpected challenges.