The Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) is one of five communities nationwide selected to join AT&T’s Climate Resilient Communities Initiative (CRCI), including a $42,000 contribution to bolster its climate resilience efforts. This innovative initiative equips local leaders with detailed, forward-looking climate data tailored to their regions, enabling them to anticipate environmental hazards and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
The $42,000 contribution from AT&T specifically supports the Disaster Science Operations Center at Western Kentucky University, which will provide the BRADD community with weather instrumentation, weather radios, portable AC units, fans and training exercises to enhance preparedness and response capabilities in the face of extreme weather events.
This financial support is part of a larger, holistic approach by AT&T to help ensure communities like BRADD can effectively safeguard their residents and thrive amidst accelerating environmental hazards.
“Kentuckians have been through so much over the past several years, and it is promising to see new technologies being used to help our communities prepare for future natural disasters,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Today’s announcement embodies our Team Kentucky spirit – we are seeing many groups coming together to build a better Kentucky and ultimately protect more families.”
AT&T initially commissioned the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) to produce climate data for its own network and infrastructure planning. AT&T then made the rich climate datasets they use publicly available for free by creating the Climate Risk and Resilience (ClimRR) portal in collaboration with Argonne, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), and the Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office. ClimRR – which is based on underlying climate datasets containing over 60 climate variables – projects future hazards like extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and wildfire. The portal also integrates local demographic and infrastructure data to provide a comprehensive view of potential climate impacts.
As part of the CRCI, BRADD received assistance from AT&T, Argonne, and Project Interdependent Networked Community Resilience Modeling Environment (Project IN-CORE) to enhance its local Hazard Mitigation Plans using ClimRR insights. Project IN-CORE is a non-profit organization that provides technical support and consultation services for community resilience planning. This support included detailed reports, map visualizations, and specific mitigation strategies for projected climate risks such as drought, flooding, temperature changes, and wind and precipitation patterns.
“BRADD’s focus – to preserve and advance the quality of life and economic well-being for the people in our district – is based on a model of collaboration,” said Eric Sexton, BRADD Executive Director. “We have already begun to utilize the technical support and consultation services provided as part of the AT&T Climate Resilient Communities Initiative. This is helping us, for example, develop new visualizations and projections of drought and flood conditions and temperature extremes we could reasonably expect in our area in the future. We’re excited to collaborate further and help develop local programs and actions that could be implemented now to help the people in our district well into the future.”
The analysis conducted through the CRCI using ClimRR data revealed significant projected changes for BRADD by mid-century. Under a higher emissions scenario, the area could see an additional week of summer days with heat indices of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, milder winters, up to five extra inches of annual rainfall, and an increase in average flood depth at building sites by ¾ inch. These changes necessitate a multifaceted approach to climate resilience, including increased cooling options, public education around extreme heat, and enhanced water management solutions.
“While fortifying our AT&T network against extreme weather is critical for all the people who rely on the connectivity we provide, resiliency can’t be built in a vacuum,” said AT&T Kentucky President Carlos E. Sanchez. “We’re excited to collaborate with BRADD to put this information to use locally, preparing and protecting people right here in the Commonwealth.”
