Year: 2015
Project(s):
Relevance
As climate continues to change, localized flooding is becoming more frequent. Local hazard mitigation plans generally do not take into consideration the increased flooding risks due to sea level rise. Data is not available at a scale where decisions can be made to protect critical infrastructure and facilities.
Response
The City of Ocean Springs used funds from a small grant provided by MASGC to produce localized maps depicting vulnerability of roads, beaches and other infrastructure to flooding due to sea-level rise. The study outlined recommended mitigation actions along with a summary of their pros and cons (e.g. adapting infrastructure to coastal drainage, erosion prevention and transportation infrastructure). The city then conducted a public outreach campaign to determine what types of mitigation measures residents would support to address these vulnerabilities.
Results
The City of Ocean Springs conducted a sea-level rise study to identify critical infrastructure at risk to flooding. The city prioritized mitigation actions and is working to address its vulnerabilities through applying for grant opportunities, updating codes and revisiting their comprehensive plan.
Recap
The results of The City of Ocean Springs’ sea-level rise vulnerability study and subsequent public outreach led to updates in its zoning code and comprehensive plan. The city also used information from the study to prioritize capital improvements. (2015)