The operational vulnerabilities of aging grid infrastructure pose significant risks during extreme weather events. Hidden weaknesses, such as phase imbalances and constrained switching options, can turn minor disruptions into prolonged outages. For example, Hurricanes Helene and Milton left millions without power due to operational blind spots, while Winter Storm Fern in 2025 caused outages across 10 states. These issues are not limited to hurricanes; they also affect reliability during normal conditions, with U.S. customers experiencing an average of 5.6 hours of outages annually. Without integrating smarter operational technologies, utilities risk longer recovery times and higher costs during future storms.