Techniques for providing an adaptive energy management system for responding to extreme weather conditions are described herein. In an embodiment, a server computer stores multiple policy datasets each representing HVAC control policy for different structure locations and one or more extreme weather conditions. The server computer receives weather condition data comprising a condition identifier of a then-current extreme weather condition in association with a location identifier specifying a particular geographical region. Based on the location identifier, a particular structure location, being within the particular geographic region, is identified. Based on the particular structure location, a particular policy dataset from among the policy datasets is identified. The particular policy dataset is transformed into HVAC equipment instructions, which the server computer transmits, over a network, to HVAC equipment at the particular structure location which, when executed, cause the HVAC equipment to execute an action in accordance with the particular policy dataset.