Option

Communicate hazard and risk information to residents

Option

Communicate hazard and risk information to residents

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Create agreements with AirBnB and other home share platforms to educate guests on hazards and emergency exit strategies. Air PollutionWindLandslidesSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Transportation and MobilityPeople Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 208 (pdf p. 220))
Develop a drought communication and public information campaign. Use the campaign to facilitate timely communication of relevant information to building owners and managers, developers and the public. Drought Multiple or All AssetsPeople National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 23)
Develop a plan for communicating to the public about seawall projects (e.g., why are they needed, where are they needed). Flooding – Coastal Property Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Understand and communicate risk information to all residents. Help them understand and distill data on risks posed by all types of flooding. Flooding – General People Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
Develop a central web portal that is dedicated to all items related to flooding. Flooding – General Multiple or All Assets Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 186)
Consider adding program incentives for landlords and building managers to annually distribute flood safety pamphlets or brochures to residents in flood-prone areas. Flooding – General People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Update the public on the status of local stormwater management systems' ability to handle stormwater. Flooding – General Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast State of Louisiana Regional Adaptation Strategy
Increase awareness of erosion and landslide hazards. Consult with emergency management professionals to create a community warning or public notification system. LandslidesErosion – Coastal People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 29)
Inform property owners and residents located in areas at high risk of erosion and landslide about their risks. LandslidesErosion – Coastal People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 29)
Educate potential buyers on how to assess properties that may be located in high-risk landslide areas. Collaborate with erosion and landslide professionals to conduct workshops, develop brochures or launch Landslides Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 29)
Direct residents to geographic information system (GIS) hazard mapping online to better understand their risks. Multiple or All HazardsFlooding – General PeopleProperty National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Offer GIS hazard mapping tools online to educate residents about risks. Multiple or All HazardsErosion – Coastal Multiple or All Assets National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 29)
Publish a guide on steps that property owners can take to make their existing buildings more resilient. WindMultiple or All HazardsSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Multiple or All AssetsProperty Northeast Climate Ready Boston - Resilience Initiatives
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Option

Manage vegetation and fuel loads through thinning, brush removal, and prescribed burns

Option

Manage vegetation and fuel loads through thinning, brush removal, and prescribed burns

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Protect parks and facilities from the increased risk of urban and rural fire through increased underbrush clearing, perimeter protection and adequate patrol and staffing. Fire (Wildfire) Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyAquatic and Marine ResourcesNatural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southwest City of Santa Cruz, CA Climate Action Plan
Establish long-term governmental agreements with federal, state, local, tribal, nonprofit and private partners to implement aggressive forest thinning, prescribed burning, post-treatment monitoring and Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and Wildlife Southwest Flagstaff Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (p. 70)
Sponsor local volunteer events to reduce fuel loads along the wildland-urban interface. Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyUrban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and Wildlife National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 21)
Increase prescribed fire and thinning, when and where appropriate. Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyAquatic and Marine ResourcesNatural Areas and Wildlife Northwest Missoula, MT Regional Adaptation Strategy (p. 46 (pdf p. 62))
Evaluate and implement slash removal methods that minimize smoke production, such as air curtain burners. Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and Wildlife Northwest Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan (p. 93)
Conduct regular brush management in high wildfire risk zones. Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and Wildlife Southwest Climate Resilient San Diego (p. 54 (pdf p. 60))
Identify locations of controlled (prescribed) burns and track them in a database. Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 114)
Encourage local utilities to collaborate with adjacent landowners to reduce flammable vegetation and wildland fire risk along transmission lines and near critical infrastructure. Include efforts to increase Fire (Wildfire) Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyCritical FacilitiesEnergy and UtilitiesProperty Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 27 (pdf p. 61))
Develop policies for addressing controlled (prescribed) burn requests from property owners. Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 114)
Implement natural fuel reduction activities fire-prone areas, such as grubbing out or conducting controlled burns underneath mature forests. Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyAquatic and Marine ResourcesNatural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 211 (pdf p. 223))
Develop a local forest management taskforce comprised of of forestry and fire management professionals, local government stakeholders, private businesses, local community members and non-profits. The Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyUrban Landscape and Tree CanopyAquatic and Marine ResourcesEconomyNatural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Establish partnerships to conduct prescribed burns in priority areas and manage forests at an ecologically meaningful scale. Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and Wildlife Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Restore disturbance regimes as appropriate to emerging conditions, including instituting human-assisted disturbance where necessary (e.g., prescribed fire). Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and Wildlife National USFWS National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy
Implement applicable wildfire risk mitigation techniques such as prescribed/controlled burns on pilot forests Fire (Wildfire) Natural Areas and Wildlife Midwest Denver, CO Climate Action Plan
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Option

Conduct climate vulnerability and risk assessments of community assets, facilities, and infrastructure

Option

Conduct climate vulnerability and risk assessments of community assets, facilities, and infrastructure

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Assess governmental assets' exposure to erosion, extreme heat, flooding, high winds, landslides, severe winter weather and wildfire. Determine if those assets house critical functions. If they do, determine Erosion – CoastalExtreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-inducedWindLandslidesSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire) Critical FacilitiesMultiple or All Assets Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 114)
Partner with the local utility to evaluate and address the possibility of increasing erosion and flood risk to transmission towers. Erosion – Coastal Energy and Utilities Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 27 (pdf p. 61))
Evaluate the potential for increased moisture issues in buildings that house pools. Extreme Heat Property Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 24 (pdf p. 46))
Assess the need for passive and active cooling and resilience retrofits in government facilities. Consider the impacts of increasing heat events and higher nighttime temperatures on operations and maintenance Extreme Heat Critical FacilitiesProperty Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 24 (pdf p. 42))
Conduct a resource gap assessment and identify and pursue new partnership opportunities to implement wildfire protection measures. Fire (Wildfire) Agriculture and Food SupplyUrban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterMultiple or All AssetsNatural Areas and Wildlife Southern Great Plains City of San Antonio, TX: A Path for Climate Action & Adaptation (p. 46)
Conduct site assessments at local government facilities and ensure effective management of vegetation, defensible space and hardening of assets as feasible for wildfire preparedness. Fire (Wildfire) Critical FacilitiesProperty Southwest Climate Resilient San Diego (p. 58 (pdf p. 64))
Conduct an audit of landslide and flood-prone areas. Identify the likelihood and consequences of climate related impacts to these properties. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralLandslides PeopleProperty Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 24 (pdf p. 46))
Evaluate public housing units in flood-prone areas for opportunities to mitigate flooding. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Property Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 183)
Evaluate City facilities in areas at risk of landslides and floods including the likliehood and consequences of additional climate-related impacts to these properties and identify additional actions to Landslides Critical Facilities Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 24 (pdf p. 42))
Complete an inventory of locations where critical facilities, other buildings and infrastructure are at high risk for erosion or landslides. LandslidesErosion – Coastal Critical FacilitiesMultiple or All Assets National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 27)
Conduct a vulnerability assessment for the jurisdiction. Include the identification of at-risk assets, including neighborhoods, infrastructure and natural resources. Multiple or All Hazards Multiple or All Assets Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
Evaluate critical infrastructure vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change. Work with regulators to minimize gaps in services. Examples of critical infrastructure includes utilities, schools, critical Multiple or All HazardsFlooding – Rainfall-induced Critical FacilitiesEnergy and Utilities Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 183)
Assess impact of climate change on community resources by developing an inventory of the location and condition of existing infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes and transit facilities. Include Multiple or All Hazards Transportation and Mobility Northwest Puget Sound Regional Council Climate Change and Resilience Guidance
Update risk and vulnerability assessments of critical facilities. Work with responsible parties to ensure that they identify and undertake critical improvements to transportation, buildings, IT, telecoms Multiple or All HazardsFlooding – General Critical Facilities Southern Great Plains City of San Antonio, TX: A Path for Climate Action & Adaptation (p. 44)
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Option

Strengthen stormwater management standards and capacity requirements

Option

Strengthen stormwater management standards and capacity requirements

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Strengthen stormwater management regulations to account for future sea level rise conditions. Flooding – Coastal Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 180)
Design program policies to promote stream and wetland restoration. Ensure adequate retention, drainage and diversion of stormwater. Such policies could also encourage green infrastructure such as grassy Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterWater Infrastructure – Stormwater National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 15)
Develop or update stormwater rules. Flooding – General Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
Increase stormwater management requirements for retaining water. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 115)
Require or incentivize additional stormwater detention efforts (e.g., green streets, swales, underground storage tanks). Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 201 (pdf p. 213))
Increase drainage and storage design standards for private development. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced PropertyWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Require hydrologic matching before and after new developments for commercial properties. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Property Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 115)
Develop and adopt a cohesive regional stormwater ordinance. Include baseline best practices and the option for communities to go beyond minimum requirements. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Miami Forever Climate Ready Strategy
Implement Best Management Practices for stormwater when constructing or rehabilitating housing and public facilities. Flooding – General PropertyWater Infrastructure – Stormwater National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 15)
Develop uniform watershed-based stormwater policies across jurisdictional boundaries. Flooding – General Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast State of Louisiana Regional Adaptation Strategy (p. 104)
Enhance existing stormwater ordinance to detain 25-yr storm. Flooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 115)
Develop policy to increase capacity beyond a 3-year event (2-3 inch storm) for stormwater without a timeline that is adopted by the Commission, identify Flooding – Rainfall-induced Critical Facilities Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Reduce threshold for stormwater quantity control and consider improvements to streams: increase quality control, improve incentives for current roles to increase quantity and infiltration Flooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 116)
Require higher stormwater treatment design standards for water quality related to outputs and surface water assets. Water Pollution Aquatic and Marine ResourcesWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Set a goal to become stormwater neutral by increasing the ability of the jurisdiction to capture, infiltrate, retain or evapotranspirate the first inch of rainwater. This achievement would benefit local Water PollutionErosion – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and WildlifeWater Infrastructure – Stormwater National
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Option

Promote household emergency and evacuation preparedness

Option

Promote household emergency and evacuation preparedness

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Hold events where residents can interact with local experts and develop an emergency preparedness kit to take home. Air PollutionWindMultiple or All HazardsFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Multiple or All AssetsPeople Midwest Cleveland Climate Action Plan
Expand and publicize the Ready, Set, Go! Evacuation program. (safety impacts.) Fire (Wildfire) People Northwest Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan (p. 96)
Create an outreach program to inform the public about proper evacuation procedures during a wildfire. Fire (Wildfire) Transportation and MobilityPeople National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 21)
Educate the public on the benefits of elevating food, supplies and equipment in case of a flood. Flooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Multiple or All AssetsPeople Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 196 (pdf p. 208))
Educate residents and community groups about safety during flood conditions, including the dangers of driving on flooded roads (e.g., Turn Around. Don’t Drown.). Flooding – General People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Encourage landlords and residents to consult flood management professionals about how to prepare for and manage flood and stormwater effects. Flooding – General People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Encourage residents to develop a household evacuation plan to prepare for floods. Flooding – General People National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Education of community and Property owners about access issues in case of flood (use Google, Waze) Flooding – Rainfall-induced Transportation and Mobility Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 118)
Develop a community-wide communications and outreach program on how to prepare and recover from climate hazards. The program may focus on a target population or a target hazard, or may be more broad. Multiple or All Hazards Multiple or All Assets Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Partner with nonprofits such as the United Way, Red Cross and Salvation Army to leverage existing programs to build individual and community preparedness. Multiple or All Hazards People Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 47 (pdf p. 49))
Encourage homeowner association policies to clean up debris before expected wind events (e.g., hurricanes). Wind Property Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 211 (pdf p. 223))
Partner with banks to increase household emergency savings accounts. WindLandslidesMultiple or All HazardsSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Erosion – CoastalExtreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General People Southeast Tallahassee Community Resilience Plan (p. 56 (pdf p. 58))
Increase the capacity of residents to be self-reliant for the first few days following an extreme weather emergency. Emergency personnel are often overwhelmed during extreme weather emergencies and neighbors WindLandslidesSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General People Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 47 (pdf p. 49))
Create an education outreach campaign for the public about securing debris, propane tanks, yard items or stored objects that may otherwise be swept away, damaged or pose a hazard if picked up and washed WindFlooding – General PeopleProperty National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 17)
Create a map of detours and educate the public on alternative access points and the evacuation plan. Ensure drafted communications include instructions on preparing to be temporarily stranded. WindLandslidesSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Erosion – CoastalFlooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Transportation and Mobility Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 114)
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Option

Support farmers in adapting practices to changing climate conditions

Option

Support farmers in adapting practices to changing climate conditions

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Encourage farmers to adapt to seasonal changes. For example, farmers can shift to flood-tolerant crops and change plant dates to avoid wet periods. Changing Seasons Agriculture and Food Supply Northeast Tompkins County, NY Resiliency and Recovery Plan
Encourage the breeding of livestock animals and adoption of crops that are better adapted to warmer temperatures and greater precipitation variability. Changing SeasonsExtreme HeatFlooding – General Agriculture and Food Supply Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Educate farmers on selecting crops that can withstand a wider variety of weather and seasonal changes. Changing Seasons Agriculture and Food Supply Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment
Support small farms' efforts to deal with early blooms and cold snaps. For example, offer assistance with protecting crops from frost and freeze after an early warming. Changing Seasons Agriculture and Food Supply Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 199 (pdf p. 211))
Encourage farmers to update production practices to adapt to seasonal changes. For example, farmers can change crop varieties and breeds, change the timing of farm operations, use season extension and Changing Seasons Agriculture and Food Supply National Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation
Develop and communicate water-use best practices for agricultural producers in real time to inform plant and animal water needs, improve efficiency and reduce water loss. Drought Agriculture and Food Supply Northwest Missoula, MT Regional Adaptation Strategy (p. 47 (pdf p. 63))
Work with nonprofits and universities to create outreach and training materials about agricultural practices that increase diversity and drought resistance. Drought Agriculture and Food Supply Northwest Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan (p. 75)
Encourage farmers and foresters to investigate potential backup water supply sources for agriculture (e.g., well vs surface water) in case of a drought. Drought Agriculture and Food Supply Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 210 (pdf p. 222))
Work with agricultural organizations to help farmers identify and adjust to changes in pest management, cropping patterns, water management and other on-farm practices that may be required as precipitation Extreme Heat Agriculture and Food Supply Southwest City of Santa Cruz, CA Climate Action Plan
Encourage farmers to elevate the sides of hoop houses in the floodway to allow for the movement of floodwater. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Agriculture and Food Supply Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan
Encourage farmers to help manage stormwater runoff. For example, farmers can increase soil organic matter for better drainage, shift production to more highly drained soils and install tile drains. Multiple or All HazardsWater PollutionFlooding – General Agriculture and Food SupplyWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Northeast Tompkins County, NY Resiliency and Recovery Plan
Encourage farmers to use disease control practices that minimize chemical inputs. Water Pollution Agriculture and Food Supply Northeast Tompkins County, NY Resiliency and Recovery Plan
Create education and incentive programs to encourage sustainable food production techniques that preserve soil and water quality. Example techniques include the use of perennial crops, diversified farming Water Pollution Agriculture and Food Supply Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
Ensuring proper management of agricultural runoff water to reduce the likelihood of contamination during heavy rain events and flooding. Water Pollution Agriculture and Food SupplyAquatic and Marine Resources Southeast
Encourage farmers to update farm technologies to account for seasonal changes and reduce fertilizer and water use. For example, farmers can increase the efficiency of irrigation; make use of weather and Water PollutionChanging SeasonsDrought Agriculture and Food Supply National Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation
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Option

Assess water supply, quality, and infrastructure vulnerabilities under climate change

Option

Assess water supply, quality, and infrastructure vulnerabilities under climate change

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Examine regionalization efforts and sharing of resources for all water utilities. DroughtFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – GeneralWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan (p. 160 (pdf p. 168))
Develop a study to look at drought and expected water supply in the future (50 years) given new data since the WEAP Modeling effort Drought Water Infrastructure – General Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Investigate water supply variability with more recent, large-precipitation events. Drought Water Infrastructure – General Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 197 (pdf p. 209))
Seek out technical assistance to assess the flood and erosion risks facing drinking water systems. Identify potential solutions. Erosion – CoastalFlooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – General Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan (p. 143 (pdf p. 151))
Work with the sewer district to identify infiltration and inflow issues within sewer lines to reduce sewer entering stormwater systems. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – GeneralWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 115)
Complete a climate readiness assessments of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure. Multiple or All HazardsFlooding – Rainfall-induced Water Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – GeneralWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan (p. 160 (pdf p. 168))
Evaluate climate-related risks for sludge and biosolids mobility, contamination, storage, and/or processing. Ensure sludge and sewage processing facility placement and design minimize health and environmental Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – Wastewater Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan (p. 150 (pdf p. 158))
Work with drinking water providers to identify current groundwater pollutants and sources. Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – Drinking Water Northwest Boise's Climate Action Roadmap (p. 65)
Understand source water vulnerabilities. Invest in planning efforts to assist communities, especially those that are vulnerable for their long-term water supply needs. Water PollutionDrought Water Infrastructure – Drinking Water Northeast Vermont Climate Action Plan (p. 150 (pdf p. 158))
Evaluate potential sources of contamination and current practices to protect water quality (e.g., gas stations). Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – Drinking Water Northwest Boise's Climate Action Roadmap (p. 65)
Evaluate the viability and costs of new advanced reclaimed water treatment technologies to increase water quality for potable reuse. Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – General Southwest Flagstaff Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (p. 80)
Conduct a well water analysis to determine variables associated with changing water quality. Water PollutionDrought Water Infrastructure – GeneralAquatic and Marine Resources Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 41)
Identify lift stations and force mains that may be impacting raw water supply (e.g., force mains that transport sewage across lakes). Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – GeneralWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan
Conduct or update an area-wide hydrological assessment to identify alternative water sources. Create a prioritized list of sources based on reliability and cost. Follow-up with a feasibility assessment Water PollutionDrought Water Infrastructure – Drinking Water Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 43)
Follow-up with a feasibility assessment for prioritized new water sources. Water Pollution Water Infrastructure – Drinking Water Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 43)
Examine the effects of climate change and sea level rise on water availability and groundwater vulnerability to saltwater intrusion. Consider potential changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration Water PollutionDroughtFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Aquatic and Marine Resources Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
Coordinate among city, town and county government public works agencies, water utilities and other operators of water infrastructure to develop and maintain local and regional inventories of existing Water PollutionDroughtFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Water Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – GeneralWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
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Option

Acquire exposed land. Repurpose for open space and water management.

Option

Acquire exposed land. Repurpose for open space and water management.

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Preserve undeveloped and vulnerable shoreline. Erosion – CoastalFlooding – Coastal Aquatic and Marine ResourcesNatural Areas and Wildlife Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Develop an ongoing buyouts program that would re-purpose properties at high-risk of sea level rise impacts. Use the land to support water management, drainage and absorption. Erosion – CoastalFlooding – Coastal Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 11)
Manage development in areas at risk for sea level rise. For example, develop an open space acquisition, reuse and disposition plan targeting areas prone to sea level rise and coastal flooding. Erosion – Coastal Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 11)
Use easements for erosion control. Erosion – Coastal Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 27)
Conduct habitat, stream and floodplain restoration on properties purchased through floodplain buyouts. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and WildlifePropertyWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 203 (pdf p. 215))
Designate the flood zone as green space that can be used for trails and recreation or to augment small scale agriculture or flood water retention. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Agriculture and Food SupplyUrban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and Wildlife Southeast City of Alexandria, Virginia Energy & Climate Change Action Plan
Align flood mitigation and open space investments. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Urban Landscape and Tree CanopyWater Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and Wildlife Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 107 (pdf p. 109))
Obtain easements on properties at risk of flooding and use those areas for water retention and drainage. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 15)
Develop a land bank program to preserve the natural and beneficial functions of flood hazard areas. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Water Infrastructure – WastewaterNatural Areas and Wildlife National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 15)
The Home Buyout Program was initiated after the historic flood of May 2010 to purchase homes destroyed by the flood, help displaced residents, and convert lots in the floodplain to open space. After purchasing Flooding – General Property Southeast
Develop an open space acquisition, reuse and preservation program targeting flood hazard areas. Flooding – General Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 15)
Preservation of open space in flood prone areas Flooding – Rainfall-induced Natural Areas and Wildlife Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 116)
Utilize federal and state funding sources and TDA programs to acquire Property or development rights in high risk areas to retain these areas as undeveloped buffers Multiple or All Hazards Multiple or All Assets Northwest Puget Sound Regional Council Climate Change and Resilience Guidance
Continue to acquire open spaces, enhance habitats and restore native vegetation. Shifting Species, Habitats, and Ecosystems Natural Areas and Wildlife Northwest Boise's Climate Action Roadmap (p. 54)
Revise and update land acquisition priorities in a regional setting to protect, preserve and enhance water storage. Water PollutionDroughtFlooding – General Aquatic and Marine ResourcesNatural Areas and WildlifeWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southeast Southeast Florida Compact Regional Climate Action Plan - Energy and Fuel
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Option

Integrate climate and site conditions into project design standards

Option

Integrate climate and site conditions into project design standards

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

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Option from plan Hazards Assets Region Source Plan
Work with landscape architects to promote surveying vegetative cover as you design and implement local projects. Erosion – Coastal Natural Areas and Wildlife National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 12)
Promote or require site and building design standards to minimize erosion risk. For example, encourage the construction of open foundation systems on buildings that allow water to pass beneath or through Erosion – Coastal Property National HUD Community Resilience Toolkit (p. 28)
Include increasing temperature in the design calculation for maximum temperature /rating Extreme Heat Energy and Utilities InternationalNational AR5 Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (p. Table 10-2 on page 669)
Model the impacts of new transportation projects on hydrological processes and mitigate flood risk in the surrounding areas. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Transportation and Mobility Southeast State of Louisiana Regional Adaptation Strategy (p. 163)
Establish resilient road design standards to manage sea level rise. Flooding – Coastal Transportation and MobilityMultiple or All Assets Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 181)
Identify opportunities to improve how local government projects are designed with flooding and sea level rise in mind. Flooding – Coastal Multiple or All Assets Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 186)
Identify opportunities to improve how public and private projects are designed. Keep flooding and sea level rise in mind. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Transportation and MobilityMultiple or All Assets Southeast Charleston, South Carolina - All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (p. 186)
Partner with the County and State Departments of Transportation to establish resilience road design standards for SLR. Flooding – Coastal Transportation and Mobility Southeast Miami Forever Climate Ready Strategy
Ensure that any existing or newly permitted public facilities and services are designed to consider current and future flood scenarios when calculating level of service and are required to avoid present Flooding – CoastalFlooding – General Transportation and MobilityWater Infrastructure – Drinking WaterWater Infrastructure – GeneralCritical FacilitiesEnergy and UtilitiesMultiple or All AssetsWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Northwest Washington Coast Resilience Action Demonstration Project
Amend existing design standards to encourage multi-functional capital improvements for flood protection and management. Flooding – General Property Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 107 (pdf p. 109))
Require design that exceeds minimum standards for critical facility construction. Flooding – General Critical Facilities Northeast City of Baltimore Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (p. 157)
Leverage flood mitigation infrastructure investments for recreation, transportation and community health benefits. By incorporating resilience design principles, these projects can provide storm protection Flooding – General Multiple or All Assets Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 107 (pdf p. 109))
Build adaptive capacity into any new asset put into the RAD and Biltmore Village, and other vulnerable commercial areas Flooding – Rainfall-induced Property Southeast Planning for Climate Resilience—City of Asheville, North Carolina (p. 117)
Use the best available science and resilient design features in transportation infrastructure to improve resiliency to extreme climate events. LandslidesMultiple or All HazardsSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Changing SeasonsErosion – CoastalExtreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Transportation and Mobility Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Evaluate and understand how projects impact economic activity, development opportunities and environmental factors such as air quality, water quality and overall quality of life. Multiple or All Hazards Aquatic and Marine ResourcesEconomyNatural Areas and WildlifeProperty Southeast State of Louisiana Regional Adaptation Strategy (p. 121)
Evaluate proposed construction projects that support climate adaptation. Use a common set of design engineering parameters. Multiple or All HazardsErosion – Coastal Critical FacilitiesMultiple or All Assets Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 41)
Develop a design methodology for stormwater improvement projects that incorporates climate impact projections and regional development forecasts. Multiple or All Hazards PropertyWater Infrastructure – Stormwater Southern Great Plains Resilient Houston (p. 98 (pdf p. 100))
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