Partner News
Stories of Resilience: Voices that Inspire
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.
Are you ready to share? Visit our Stories of Resilience: Voices that Inspire website for more information.
|
National Adaptation Forum: Crisis as Catalyst: Meeting the Moment with Transformational Investments
In the wake of a crisis, be it an extreme weather event, a pandemic or something else, shifting political dynamics can catalyze innovation and usher in possibilities previously deemed unimaginable. Join the Climate Adaptation Forum on Nov. 30 to learn about critical junctures in history, when opportunities to do the impossible became a reality.
|
FEMA: FEMA Publishes a Proposed Rule for Public Comment on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
FEMA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register for revisions to its floodplain management regulations at Title 44 Part 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.
This is a 60-day public comment period open from Oct. 2 – Dec. 1, 2023. The proposed revisions will fully implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). The FFRMS increases the resilience of federally funded projects by incorporating anticipated changes in future flood risk into certain federally funded projects to ensure they last as long as intended.
The FFRMS applies to FEMA-funded actions involving new construction, substantial improvement or repairs to substantial damage, as well as to hazard mitigation projects involving structure elevation, dry floodproofing and mitigation reconstruction.
To support rollout of the FFRMS, FEMA has participated in interagency efforts to develop implementation tools, such as the March 2023 FFRMS Climate-Informed Science Approach State of the Science Report and the August 2023 FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid.
FEMA began implementing the FFRMS in August 2021. This partial implementation uses existing regulations to reduce flood risk by increasing the minimum elevation requirements for structures subject to floodplain management requirements. However, the FFRMS did not expand the footprint of those areas. The publication of the proposed rule does not affect FEMA’s current partial implementation of the FFRMS. For additional information on FEMA’s partial implementation of the FFRMS, please see the effective policies for Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Public Assistance.
FEMA Region 3: Coffee Break Webinar on Conducting a Risk Assessment
FEMA Region 3 hosts a webinar series for anyone who wants to reduce risk in their community. These hour-long “Coffee Breaks” occur every other month. They share mitigation best practices and highlight the work happening at the federal, regional, state and community levels to reduce risk in Region 3.
Pediatric Pandemic Network: Resident-Owned Communities: Drainage Overhaul Keeps Floods Out of ROC
The Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) aims to improve the disaster resiliency of health care systems and communities. It does this by working with children's hospitals and communities to provide high-quality and equitable care to children every day and in crisis.
|
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Office for Coastal Management Video Explains Key Takeaways from 2022 Interagency Sea Level Rise Technical Report
A new video shares the most up-to-date sea level rise projections for the United States, and encourages viewers to take some initial steps. The video highlights key takeaways from the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, with a focus on how coastal communities are affected. Viewers are asked to consider actions they can take within their communities. They are then directed to existing web tools to assess the timing and severity of local impacts from sea level rise.
Resilient Virginia: Resilient Virginia Launches the Collaborative Alliance for Central and Southwest Virginia
With the support of the Institute for Sustainable Communities we are embarking on the launch of the Resilient Virginia Collaborative Alliance (RVCA) for Central and Southwest Virginia. The RVCA will bring the benefits of collaboration to communities working on resiliency planning. We will address service gaps in small, rural, non-coastal and disadvantaged communities.
|
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency: Newly Updated ResilientMass Plan
The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released its Statewide Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan, known as ResilientMass Plan. In total, the ResilientMass plan details 142 actions across state agencies that are tracked publicly at resilient.mass.gov. Key actions include establishing an Office of Climate Science, making the state building code more resilient, and updating MBTA design standards.
FEMA: Tribal Mitigation Planning and Policy Update
FEMA is updating its Tribal Hazard Mitigation Planning Policy for the first time since 2017. FEMA aims to complete the updates in 2024; the new policy will take effect in 2025.
This is a key announcement because tribal governments—like state, local and territorial ones—must have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to receive certain types of non-emergency FEMA funding. As of September 2023, over 230 federally-recognized tribal governments have approved plans.
To learn more about the policy, go to Tribal Mitigation Planning Policy Updates | FEMA.gov.
FEMA wants to hear from Tribal Nations about this update. Tribal Nations can send their comments and any questions to fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov. Please include the subject line “Tribal Mitigation Planning Guidance – Written Comments.” Feedback is due by Dec. 15.
FEMA: The Community Disaster Resilience Zone Designates 483 Community Disaster Resilience Zones
On Sep. 6, FEMA announced the initial designation of 483 Community Disaster Resilience Zones that will be eligible for increased federal and private support. This added support will help communities in these zones become more resilient to natural hazards. Designations of tribal lands and U.S. territories are coming soon.
|
Mennonite Disaster Service: Can Volunteer-Built Homes Meet the Fortified Gold Standard?
Yes, volunteers can build disaster-resilient homes. With ever-evolving construction specifications, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is ramping up the resiliency of volunteer-built homes.
In the last fiscal year, MDS built 73 homes, up from 57 the previous year. The homes are built to withstand 150-mph winds.
New in the last few months: MDS volunteers will now build homes that meet the Fortified Gold Standard of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. The standard is the highest designation for construction methods that work together to protect homes from severe weather.
Ivan Shirk, who serves on the MDS Construction Committee, said the Fortified Gold Standard is not only about keeping homeowners safer, but also about honoring the donors who count on MDS to build resilient homes.
“It’s a very good selling point for funders,” Shirk said. “It’s the leading edge in disaster wind resilience.”
Union of Concerned Scientists: Ask a Scientist: Building on Advances in Scientific Integrity
Twenty years on from UCS’ work that redefined the term scientific integrity in the federal space, meet the new director of the Center for Science and Democracy and hear her vision for the future of their work.
|
Succor Solutions: Succor ArcGIS HUB
Succor Solutions is participating in the 2023 Census Bureau's Puerto Rico Opportunity Sprint, which will conclude with a minimal viable product the week of Dec. 12. Succor Solutions is currently designing two pilot Succor ArcGIS HUBs: one at the county level for Nottoway County, Virginia, (Succor Nottoway Virginia HUB); and one at the state/territory level for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Succor Puerto Rico HUB). Both of these sites are under development in a Census Bureau Sprint Competition, but we will publish the Demo wireframe Version on Nov. 13 for Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Disaster Recovery Institute: Register Now for the DRI International’s 2024 Resilience Conference
Registration is open for DRI2024, the premier event for resilience and business continuity professionals – coming to New Orleans, LA, March 3 - 6! This event offers in-depth educational sessions and unique networking opportunities. Save on early registration using code EB24.
|
Resilient America: Resilient America Roundtable Meeting on FEMA National Resilience Guidance
Join this virtual meeting on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET to learn about FEMA's National Resilience Guidance from Catherine Welker, Emergency Management Specialist at FEMA. Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback to FEMA representatives about the Guidance.
|
