AUSTIN (KXAN) – Potentially 85% of Austin homes could present a significant risk of death for an elderly person inside if the power goes out during a heatwave, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.
The researchers assessed heat risk for Austin homes by simulating the conditions of a three-day heatwave, with temperatures above 110 degrees, along with an energy grid blackout. Then, they determined the “survivability” of those conditions for different age groups.
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Younger populations faced far less risk than older people, at 15% of homes. The study says that homes in the Rundberg and St. John neighborhoods were the most vulnerable.
UT Jackson School of Geosciences professor Dev Niyogi said he believes this study will help pinpoint locations that would benefit from heat mitigation efforts…