ABSTRACT
The Executive Office of the President Report 2013 (EOP 2013) revealed that electric power outages caused by severe weather conditions over the period 2003-2012 resulted in an average financial loss of between $18 billion and $33 billion adjusted for inflation. Uninterrupted power supply has, in fact, become a necessity, particularly during extreme events when it impacts a community’s functioning and ability to provide emergency services. These services rely on the continuing operation of the communications, transportation, and water infrastructures, which, in turn, depend on the availability of electric power supply during and after a disaster. To overcome problems due to long lasting power outages (Nigg 1995, Webb et al. 2002, Webb 2000), this chapter investigates the deployment of micro-grids (MGs)—a relatively new technology that can enhance the utilization of scarce resources, save lives and property, and aid in a quick recovery during the aftermath of a disaster making communities more resilient (Abbey et al. 2014, Yang et al. 2009, Hirose et al. 2013).
