Community-scale big data reveals disparate impacts of the Texas winter storm of 2021 and its managed power outage

Aggregated community-scale data could be harnessed to provide insights into the disparate impacts of managed power outages, burst pipes, and food inaccessibility during extreme weather events. During the Texas winter storm in February 2021, power-generating plant operators resorted to rolling blackouts. This study analyzed community-scale big data in Harris County, Texas, revealing significant disparities in the extent and duration of power outages experienced by low-income and minority groups. Burst pipes and disrupted food access were also more severe for these groups. The findings highlight the value of community-scale big data for rapid impact assessment and suggest a need for infrastructure operators to enhance social equality during managed service disruptions.

Cheng-Chun Lee, Mikel Maron, Ali Mostafavi