Apply Nighttime Light in Disaster Resilience Assessment of Infrastructures and Communities in Texas Winter Storm

Keywords: GIS, remote sensing, power outages, electric restoration, natural hazards
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 26

Abstract

With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and inconceivable natural hazards, human societies face an unprecedented threat from disaster losses. As one of the most catastrophic winter storms in history, Winter Storm Uri slammed Texas with snow, sleet, and freezing rain in 2021 February. Around 70% of people served by ESCOT, the largest electrical grid operator in Texas, lost electricity and were without power for an average of 42 hours. Due to the restricted access of socially marginalized groups to emergency supplies, especially for those who lived in poverty, people with certain demographic characteristics would be at greater risk to experience difficulties and even life threats at such level of disaster-inflicted power outages. To address social equity and environmental justice issues, it is of significance to identify those communities which suffered the most from the disaster, especially from the perspective of power outages (considered as the lifeline of human societies), thus promote disaster resilience. This study will apply calibrated daily nighttime light remote sensing imageries to detect regional power outages and restoration in several impacted regions in Texas. The results can reflect an insight into the disaster resilience of infrastructures and communities. Spatial variation of power outages, infrastructural damages, while the long-term regional economic impacts will be assessed. The outcomes of this study will promote a better understanding of disaster risk, vulnerability, and community resilience, which further help reduce and prevent future disaster damages.