Rural communities rely on public utilities for services such as power, water, and communication, yet these rural utilities are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events. In 2020, 96% of U.S. power outages were caused by severe weather events, and this impact is growing with the increased intensity and frequency of natural hazards. Adverse economic, social, and environmental costs of power supply disruptions are significant, especially in rural communities where resource limitations and longer transmission lines may make repairs or upgrades time-consuming and even unaffordable.