Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy and sustainability expert at New York University with extensive experience studying U.S. climate resilience, has taken significant steps to protect her own home in southern Connecticut from the increasing risks posed by extreme weather events. Drawing from personal experiences spanning several climate-stressed regions, Jaffe has implemented a range of measures designed to mitigate flood, fire, and power outage risks.

Jaffe’s awareness of climate threats is rooted both in her professional work and in direct encounters with extreme weather. She has endured hurricanes in Houston, where a sudden shift in a storm’s path prevented timely evacuation, leaving her family without power for over a month. In Davis, California, during heat waves, rolling transformer failures and persistent wildfire smoke created health and comfort challenges. She also experienced the “Snowmageddon” winter event in New England, which brought record snowfall and frigid temperatures that exposed the vulnerabilities of older housing stock.

When selecting her current residence, Jaffe prioritized climate-related factors to reduce future exposure. She chose a home located on a hill with limited flooding risk according to projected 2050 flood maps, close to essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and public transportation to avoid isolation during emergencies. Additionally, she avoided properties adjoining high wildfire-risk forested land.

Her property features several flood-prevention adaptations, including driveway drains to handle heavy rainfall and snowmelt and a basement equipped with an automated sump pump connected to a reliable power source via a whole-home generator. This generator, powered by propane, offers resilience against power outages—a necessity underscored by Jaffe’s previous experience during a tornado that left many neighbors in the dark. She also supplements power security with a backup battery system and employs a whole-house surge protector to prevent appliance damage from electrical spikes.

Tree management has been another critical focus. Jaffe engaged an arborist to regularly trim and reinforce a large white oak on her property, aiming to reduce the likelihood of storm damage. Despite these precautions, a recent nor’easter brought down the tree, but preventative measures likely helped prevent more severe harm to the house.

Jaffe also emphasizes indoor air quality, prioritizing clean air systems to combat smoke infiltration from distant wildfires and to improve health protections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her home uses multistage HEPA-filter purifiers with carbon absorption and ionizer technology. She opts against wood-burning fireplaces due to concerns about indoor air pollution.

Recognizing the challenges gasoline vehicles face in power outages, Jaffe maintains an electric vehicle with a home charger backed by her generator, allowing for greater mobility during emergencies when gas stations may be inoperable.

Jaffe’s approach reflects broader research indicating that extreme heat and rainfall events have intensified in many parts of the United States, and that some areas may soon face severe weather for the first time. While some may view her measures as cautious, she advocates that homeowners consider climate risk seriously as such events become more frequent and intense across the country.