Hurricane Helene brought devastation — and an opportunity — to Appalachia’s power grids

By the time Hurricane Helene made its way inland on September 27, it had weakened to a tropical storm but remained powerful due to warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. It caused widespread damage and power outages in the Mountain South, including Asheville, North Carolina. Utility crews worked tirelessly to restore power, facing challenges due to complex equipment that needs replacing. The storm highlighted the vulnerability of power grids to climate change and the need for resilience. Shortages of crucial electrical equipment like transformers pose a challenge to recovery efforts. The crisis spurred discussions on strategic reserves and collective procurement of equipment. Reconstruction presents an opportunity to rethink and strengthen the grid structure, with options like microgrids and distributed energy systems being considered. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene serves as a wake-up call to improve the resilience of power grids in the face of future extreme weather events.