Year: 2017
Project(s):
Relevance
As the Gulf Coast population increases, so does the risk of exposure to floods, hurricanes and other storm-related events. Coastal managers and decision-makers want to increase their communities' capacity to bounce back from stressors and reduce immediate impacts and long-term economic losses. Communities, however, lack the baseline data needed to measure resilience.
Response
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) and MASGC-trained volunteers facilitated the use of the Coastal Community Resilience Index (CRI) in 55 coastal communities across the Gulf region. The self-assessment tool allows communities to use existing knowledge, data and studies to examine resilience in terms of critical infrastructure, community plans and agreements, mitigation measures and other factors. It identifies problems communities should address and where they should allocate resources. MASGC trained 117 facilitators in the Gulf of Mexico, New England, Pacific Islands, Mexico and Bangladesh prior to 2014 and another 109 facilitators between 2014-2017. In addition, three sector indices were created (Tourism, Fisheries, Ports) and pilot tested to address resilience planning for important businesses that serve as economic drivers for coastal communities in Mississippi and Alabama. MASGC has assisted six additional states (Wisconsin, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Hawaii) with the development of their own versions of one or more of the indices, as well as transferred the concept to three countries (Macedonia, Bangladesh and Mexico). Finally, MASGC has modified the CRI for use in the high school classroom through a NOAA BWET grant in partnership with The University of Southern Mississippi and the Pascagoula and Gautier (Mississippi) School Districts, reaching 246 students.
Results
At least 15 municipalities have taken action to improve resilience to natural hazards. Foley (Alabama) has taken steps to join the Community Rating System and reports better hazard planning communication among city offices. Perdido Beach (Alabama) updated its Comprehensive Plan to include periodic reviews of the CRI to assess progress toward resilience, and the town is developed a communications plan to encourage citizens to participate in resilience planning efforts. Biloxi (Mississippi) formed better emergency plans and network connections with CSX, whose railroad bisects the city, potentially causing issues in times of emergency. Fairhope (Alabama) applied for and received three different grants to address gaps such as stormwater management, marina resilience, and community visioning. A total of 226 people have been trained as facilitators of the CRI, 246 high school students have completed projects on the CRI, and six states have used at least one of the indices as a model for work in their regions.
Recap
After completing the Coastal Community Resilience Index, a self-assessment tool, at least 15 municipalities and 246 students across the Gulf of Mexico region increased their resilience to natural hazards. (2017)