Sorry to hear about your loss. I am really amazed that you could keep your wormy secret for 10 years!
Worms are survivors. When they feel impending doom, they begin making cocoons like crazy. When conditions in the bin become good again, the cocoons hatch and the worms are back.
I do not know about African worms.
Some people in hot climates rotate frozen water bottles into their bin during hot spells.

Good luck

In Texas? In the summer? Outdoors? Secret Worms?

In the summer there is lots of food. In the winter there is lots of bedding. The two need to balance. Maybe the worms needed more bedding in hot Texas? Sources are egg carton, corrigated cardboard as is in boxes, shirt cardboard as is in cereal boxes. Other moisture soaking items are biochar and baby coconut fiber.

Also good is second time around worm bin items.

Harvesting not to the edges of ones fields will leave some areas for the worms to escape into during worm adverse events.

The best safety for ones worms is generously sharing them around. If your worm population is ever divestated you may find many friends to help you repopulate.

Good Wishes for Your Secret Garden of Worms