Options Database

Introduce program incentives to encourage building developers to enclose foundations of homes and other buildings in wildfire-prone areas, rather than exposing undersides to blown embers.

Inventory and assess seawalls and outfalls to better understand vulnerability and to be positioned to secure funding.

Inventory and create a watch list of transportation infrastructure vulnerable to flooding. Create a prioritized plan to relocate or retrofit vulnerable infrastructure.

Inventory the use of herbicides and pesticides in parks and other public properties. Develop a strategy and establish targets to reduce use.

Investigate best practices and strategies in comparable communities that may be useful in your jurisdiction.

Investigate other uses for reclaimed water (e.g., crop irrigation).

Investigate water supply variability with more recent, large-precipitation events.

Involve fire protection agencies in setting development guidelines and standards.

Launch an education campaign for homeowners and contractors about water quality and the importance of not flushing grass clippings, chemicals, mud and other debris into the storm sewer system.

Launch or expand combined solar and energy storage pilots to build power grid resilience during extreme weather.

Launch or expand fan and AC unit distribution programs.

Launch or expand a neighborhood cooling center program.

Launch or expand a neighborhood cooling center program to areas that are most vulnerable. Establish nighttime cooling centers through partnerships with faith-based organizations.

Launch a “Green Alleys” program. The program could offer garden materials and help coordinate volunteer labor to residents wanting to convert neighborhood alleyways to green space or green infrastructure. The program would increase on-site management of stormwater, help cool the area through evapotranspiration and minimize pollution runoff into nearby streams.

Launch a mobile food market program that connects low-income communities to food distribution centers and grocery stores.

Launch an outreach campaign to help the public identify and clear fuel loads — large areas of dry, flammable material — and how to prune dead vegetation, perform selective logging and cut high grasses.

Launch a program that encourages vegetative urban landscaping, pervious surfaces and down spout disconnection to help manage stormwater onsite.

Lead by example by conserving water use within local government operations. For example, evaluate the potential for installing rainwater collection systems for graywater uses at government facilities and investigate opportunities for graywater reuse at existing and new facilities and properties. Uses could include irrigation, cooling towers and toilet flushing. Graywater is the relatively clean wastewater from other uses, such as from washing machines, bathtubs and sinks. Reducing water use can prevent or alleviate drought impacts.

Leak detection sensors alert utilities to faults and failures along distribution pipelines or in water storage facilities, enabling rapid action to reduce loss of vital drinking water supplies.

Leverage flood mitigation infrastructure investments for recreation, transportation and community health benefits. By incorporating resilience design principles, these projects can provide storm protection and serve as recreation and transportation assets.