Breiana DeGrate

Brieana DeGrate is a doctoral student in urban and regional sciences at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on disaster preparedness and recovery, with an emphasis on how severe weather events, such as tornadoes, impact elderly populations, particularly those residing in assisted living facilities, compared to those aging independently. She examines disparities in preparedness, access to resources, and post-disaster outcomes through qualitative interviews, spatial analysis, and policy evaluation.

DeGrate holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in policy analysis and is a fellow with the Bill Anderson Fund. Her current work investigates the 2024 tornadoes that affected Houston and Dallas, aiming to understand how institutional settings prepare for and respond to severe weather, and how public policy can better support aging populations in disaster-prone areas.

DeGrate is committed to producing research that informs equitable and sustainable disaster management strategies. She is especially passionate about ensuring that the needs of historically marginalized communities are centered in resilience planning and emergency response efforts. Her work contributes to ongoing conversations about how cities and care institutions can more effectively protect vulnerable residents before, during, and after disaster events.