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April 2023
We appreciate your patience as the April Roundup experienced a slight delay.
The RNPN had a great first quarter thanks to your partnership! We learned so much during the storytelling workshop in the January kickoff, discussed advancing rural and agricultural community resilience in February, and explored how the Whole Community can play a critical role to increase national resilience in March.
We kicked off 2023 highlighting “Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire,” a multi-year storytelling project to connect communities across the country through personal narratives with one goal: building a more resilient nation. During our January Kickoff, we heard two great presentations on the art of storytelling and why it's important. The goal of this project is to bring people together because storytelling can help communities learn from each other and better access resources. We invite partners and other interested groups to share their personal narratives around climate resilience on the Stories of Resilience website.
As we look ahead to the rest of the year, we're excited to continue bringing partners together for these critical conversations, promoting collaborative action and creating resources to aide in advancing whole community resilience. In June, we will be trying to a NEW interactive session highlighting the foundation of this network: our partners. Our June event, “Partner Connect,” will work to actively connect partners for collaboration opportunities.
"Partner Connect” will hear from up to 10 federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, nonprofit, community-based, and academic partner organizations interested in partnerships. Specifically, we are looking for:
- Partner organizations with needs/priorities actively searching for a partner(s) with capacity for collaboration.
- Partner organizations who can bring capacity and capability actively looking to support collaborative resilience efforts with other organizations.
Our hope is to catalyze lasting resilience partnerships across the Whole Community. If you would like to be a partner and present your specific needs during this session, please email FEMA-ResilientNation@fema.dhs.gov. All are welcome to attend this event.
We are thankful for each and every one of you and hope you will continue benefiting from our programming. If you have feedback on how you're using our resources and programming or have suggestions for improvements, email us at FEMA-ResilientNation@fema.dhs.gov.
To continued partnership,
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network
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Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Announces Funding Opportunity for Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings
EPA announced $10,670,000 in funding for the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program. States, federally recognized Tribes, public pre-schools, local educational agencies, and non-profit organizations may apply for funding to support the assessment, prevention, control, or abatement of wildfire smoke hazards in community buildings and related activities. Applications are due May 9. For more information visit the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program webpage.
Disaster Recovery Institute International: DRI Foundation Scholarships Open for Students with a parent who is a Business Continuity Professional
The DRI Foundation provides $5,000 scholarships for college-bound children of Certified Professionals in the U.S. and Canada! This year's scholarship application period is open now, through May 26, with the winners to be announced by June 23. For more information visit DRI's scholarship application webpage.
National Wildlife Federation: Nature-based Solutions Funding Database
As natural hazards like flooding and drought increase in intensity and frequency each year, communities face the growing pressure to develop and implement plans that protect vulnerable communities, infrastructure, natural habitats and farmland. Nature-based solutions offer a cost-effective, long-term approach to addressing environmental issues like polluted water, eroded soils or degraded habitats, while simultaneously considering social and economic outcomes. While there are several funding sources for nature-based practices, this database focuses on federal funding and technical assistance programs.
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Partner News
RNPN: Thank You to Everyone Who Attended the March Ideation Hour!
During our March Ideation Hour we explored how the whole community can share responsibility and increase national resilience. This session brought together diverse partners to address the critical roles of all stakeholders; it inspired forward-looking and people-centered resilience planning approaches. In the coming weeks, we will release an Insights and Reflections document that summarizes the key discussion points and considerations from that event.
Stories of Resilience: Voices that Inspire
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Do you have a story to tell? We want to learn more about your journey towards climate resilience. Sharing your wins and challenges can help others learn from your experience. You can submit photos, video, audio, text, or art about your resilience journey.
Ready to share? Visit our Stories of Resilience: Voices that Inspire website for more information.
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FEMA: Join the Discussion!
FEMA is spearheading an effort to create national resilience guidance and resources for the whole community, to help everyone understand and fulfill their critical roles related to increasing community and national resilience. FEMA is hosting six 60-minute listening sessions in April, May and June to engage a broad range of stakeholders and gather input to inform the development of this guidance.
Join our listening sessions! They will explore topics such as:
- Actions and partnerships needed to increase resilience.
- Chronic community stressors and their impacts on community readiness.
- Roles and responsibilities of whole community stakeholders.
- Innovative approaches for successful disaster resilience planning.
- Resources needed to help the whole community understand and execute their roles.
For more information about these listening sessions and this project, visit National Resilience Guidance | FEMA.gov. If you have any questions, please email us at national-resilience@fema.dhs.gov.
Institute for Sustainable Development: Building the Blue Innovation Pipeline: Lessons Learned from the United States and Sweden Recommends Greater Investment in Blue R&D and Innovation
U.S. Global Change Research Program: Updates to the Climate Literacy Guide
What do you think the whole community needs to know about climate change? The U.S. Global Change Research Program would like to hear from you! We are updating the 2009 Climate Literacy Guide. Comments can be submitted electronically until 11:59 PM ET on May 31, 2023. The U.S. Global Change Research Program is also hosting listening sessions to gain insight: register here.
American Flood Coalition: State Resilience Partnership Launches New Website
This month, the State Resilience Partnership launched the first phase of its new website. Developed to curate expertise and research on state-level flood resilience, the website supports state leaders as they craft resilience plans, policies, and programs across the United States.
National Wildlife Federation in NYC: NYC Students and Community Members Help Stabilize Dunes in Coney Island
Public school students, local residents and community partners planted 15,000 beach grass culms to stabilize dunes, prevent erosion, and protect coastal homes from flooding in Coney Island, Brooklyn, as part of the National Wildlife Federation's Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC) program.
For questions about RiSC, contact nycresilientschools@gmail.com
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FEMA: 2023 Hazard Mitigation Partner Workshop Call for Abstracts
FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division is opening a Call for Abstracts for the annual Hazard Mitigation (HM) Partners Workshop. The Call for Abstracts period runs from Monday, April 10, 2023, to Monday, May 15, 2023.
About the Workshop: The 2023 HM Partners Workshop will be held October 16-19, 2023. This year's theme is All Together for Climate Resilience Communities: Equity, Partnerships, Capability & Capacity.
The conversations at the 2023 HM Partners Workshop will focus on building mitigation champions, driving community resiliency, providing technical assistance for grant programs, and supporting overall hazard mitigation.
The Resilient Activist: Four Steps for a Resilient Life Program
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The Resilient Activist's Four Steps Workshop offers an empowering journey to cultivate resilience, optimism, and hope in the face of the climate crisis. Tools for building and sustaining resilience are shared, focusing on building community and a deep nature connection. Registration can be found on our events page at https://www.theresilientactivist.org/events/ .
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Updates From the Union of Concerned Scientists
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 What Is Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) and What Is Its Connection to Wildfires?
Increased use of forest management strategies like prescribed burning around communities and at the wildland urban interface can help to lower risks of catastrophic outcomes. However, these trends in VPD emphasize the urgency of reducing emissions, while also highlighting the importance of adapting to our climate-driven reality, since projections of VPD suggest wildfires will continue to escalate.
 Can We Still Limit Global Warming to 1.5°C? Here’s What the Latest Science Says
Modeling highlighted in the IPCC’s Working Group III report shows that global emissions would need to peak before 2025 and decrease by 43% relative to 2019 levels by 2030 to have a roughly 40% chance of limiting future warming to 1.5°C with limited or no overshoot.
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 Will Climate Change Force More Farmworkers to Go Hungry?
Farmworkers face disproportionate occupational hazards from extreme weather and climate change that have far-reaching consequences off the field. Already sky-high, the food insecurity rates in farmworker communities will likely grow even higher as climate change worsens, threatening food production and earnings. Big corporations and industrial agriculture companies should pay farmworkers fair wages and provide labor protections. Also, we need solutions and wage protections for the times farmworkers are unable to work due to emergencies such as extreme weather events.
 Top Three Findings from the Latest UCS Survey of Federal Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently conducted a survey of federal scientists to ask about the state of science, and the results are in. The widespread consensus is that scientists in the federal government feel more positive about their workplaces now than they have at any other time we have administered the survey.
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 These Attorneys General Are Defending the Fossil Fuel Industry, Not Their States
As a state’s top legal officer, AGs are supposed to function as the “people’s lawyer,” representing the interests of their state’s residents. All swear to faithfully discharge their duties. By putting the interests of the fossil fuel industry ahead of the health and safety of their own constituents, however, these five AGs are in blatant violation of their oath of office.
 NOAA’s Spring Outlook Points to a Risky Season
NOAA’s Spring Outlook calls on us to prepare for what look to be risky flood conditions from now through May. This forecast, along with the knowledge that floods are among the costliest disasters, must prompt Congress to reform and modernize how we manage flood risk across the nation. Time is of the essence for Congress to do this essential work to help communities, especially marginalized and low-resourced communities, prepare for the next deluge.
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Technical Assistance Available
FEMA: Center for Domestic Preparedness
The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) enhances the resiliency of U.S. communities by teaching responders to prepare for and safely respond to a wide range of natural and manmade disasters. The advanced, all-hazards training is free and delivered on the CDP campus in Alabama, at sites around the nation, and online.
Enterprise Community Partners: Fourth Climate Resilience Academy (West Coast) Coming Soon
Enterprise Community Partners will launch the fourth climate resilience academy for affordable housing owners and operators, focusing on the West Coast. Launching at the end of April (applications opened in mid-February), the curriculum will provide education and technical assistance on climate risk reduction. Owners and operators of affordable housing in California, Oregon and Washington are encouraged to join this regional cohort to engage with other housing providers, content experts and local stakeholders to learn how to better address the unique hazards of the West Coast. If you have questions, please contact Senior Program Director, Mihir Parikh at mparikh@enterprisecommunity.org.
Environmental Protection Agency: "Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management" Training
EPA’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) program, alongside EPA’s Watershed Academy, is excited to announce the release of a web-based training entitled “Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management.” This training, developed with review and feedback from partners at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, supports water quality and hazard mitigation professionals in integrating water quality issues, water resource management, and nature-based practices into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs). Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and real-world examples demonstrate to hazard mitigation planners how to connect with water resource programs through hazard mitigation planning and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs.
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New Resources
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency Published Resource Summary for Flood Cleanup
EPA published a new one-page resource summary featuring QR codes for easy access to resources and guidance on how to safely clean up your home and protect your indoor air quality following a flood. Please see Flood Cleanup and Indoor Air Quality.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy: Resilience Issue Insight
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This issue insight provides an overview of resilience, key facts and recommendations for funders. Philanthropy is the primary audience; however, anyone committed to helping communities become more resilient will find it useful.
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Environmental Defense Fund: Inclusive Insurance for Climate-Related Disasters
Climate-related disasters are increasing, causing long-term harm for those with few financial safety nets. To address these disparities, we need inclusive disaster insurance that is affordable, accessible, transparent and just. Building an inclusive insurance market for climate-related disasters in the U.S. requires a complementary range of policies, programs, regulations and products across the public and private sector.
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Garrison Flood Control: A Flood Planning Case Study For Vulnerable Areas in New York
Amalgamated Warbasse Houses in Brooklyn NY has 5 buildings, 2,585 apartments, 6,000+ residents and an independent power plant. Located in close proximity to the ocean in Coney Island, this client sought significant flood protection solutions for the entire property.
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RNPN: "Building Alliances for Equitable Resilience" Resource
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network and 26 partners co-authored and released the “Building Alliances for Equitable Resilience” resource, which features insights, reflections, resources and contact information that organizations can use to build equitable practices into their day-to-day work.
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