Presentation Title:
Urban Climate Disasters: What the LA Wildfires, Maui Wildfires, Hurricane Helene and Winter Storm Uri tell us about our Energy and Water Infrastructure
Track D: Clean Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities
Session D2: Resilient Energy Transitions
Day 2 - March 12, 2026Â 9:00 am
Speaker(s):
Abstract:
| Extreme weather events over the past 5 years have become more frequent, fatal, and destructive. Additionally, climate disasters such as the LA Wildfires, the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Uri have permanently disrupted urban areas. Although these events are different in the type of damage they impose, they are linked by causality and in their catastrophic destruction. The authors will present the case that climate change is a key driver for these events. For each of these climate disasters, the authors will then focus upon how existing energy and water infrastructure in the impacted area exacerbated the disaster, or helped mitigate damage. A survey of microgrids in the impacted areas will be performed to assess whether this type of energy infrastructure was more resilient in the face of these climate disasters. Drawing from the findings of this analysis, and restoration plans and efforts from these disasters, the authors will provide recommendations for enhancing energy and water infrastructure systems to be more resilient in the face of future climate threats. |