Severe Weather Increasingly Challenges New York's Power Grid, Study Finds
New research highlights the growing vulnerability of New York's electrical grid to severe weather, disproportionately affecting low-income communities.
- A recent study shows severe weather events are leading to more frequent and prolonged power outages across New York State, with low-income areas facing the highest risk.
- Eastern Queens, upper Manhattan, the Bronx, the Hudson Valley, and the Adirondack regions are particularly vulnerable to weather-induced power disruptions.
- The combination of extreme heat and heavy rainfall can increase the likelihood of power outages by up to 300 times.
- Socially vulnerable communities, characterized by higher poverty rates and lower housing quality, experience longer and more frequent outages.
- Investments in grid improvement, backup power, and building weatherization are critical to mitigating the impact of power outages on health and safety.
Newsweek 
The Hill 