The Resilient Nation Roundup | May 2024

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent this bulletin at 05/16/2024 02:18 PM EDT

May 2024

Thank You for Making April a Remarkable Month of Storytelling and Partnership!

The Resilient Nation Partnership Network (RNPN) wrapped up the 2024 Partnership Forum “Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire” last month. Along with our co-host, the Sundance Institute, we are grateful to everyone who took part in this year’s series.  

Throughout the forum, we talked about climate equity, resilient agriculture, extreme heat, tribal migration, and the power of storytelling. In case you missed it, each session was recorded. The featured themes and films from each day are: 

  • Exploring the film Newtok by Andrew Burton and Michael Kirby Smith. 

You can find the full suite recordings on 2024 Resilient Nation Partnership Network Forum | FEMA.gov.  

Thank you again for your partnership and participation!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEMA Events:

Conferences and Workshops to Note:

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

New Liberty Road Community Development Corporation: Houston OEM CERT Training: Empowering Communities and Enhancing Resilience

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Nonpoint Source program and Watershed Academy announced the release of a web-based training. This training is called “Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management.” The training helps water quality and hazard mitigation professionals work water quality issues, water resource management, and nature-based practices into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs). They can help planners from both fields explore activities of shared interest and benefit. Case studies and real-world examples show planners how to connect with water resource programs through hazard mitigation planning. They also help watershed planners learn how water resource plans and HMPs can support each other.  

Learn more here.

 

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: California Helping Community-Based Organizations and Tribes Access Public Grants and Philanthropic Funding

Philanthropy California and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services have partnered to build resilience in the state. They will provide virtual and in-person grant writing training, events, and one-on-one technical assistance. This work will support nonprofits, community-based organizations, and tribal organizations that work in climate and disaster resilience. 

Learn more here.

Partner News

RNPN Partner Connect: Call for Proposals

Partner Connect, which launched last year, provides a platform for RNPN partners to highlight resilience projects and challenges. The event strives to create partnership opportunities to expand capacity and facilitate solution-oriented exchanges amongst partners. The next Partner Connect will be on Wednesday, July 24 at 1 p.m. ET.

The RNPN is currently seeking partners to share their challenges to receive assistance from fellow RNPN partners regarding their ongoing work. If your non-profit organization or state/local government is seeking guidance and would like to get feedback and support from the partnership network, we invite you to submit a proposal.

If you would like to participate and present your specific needs during this session, please email FEMA-ResilientNation@fema.dhs.gov by 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 7 and include the following information in your proposal:

  • Organization name
  • Brief summary of the project(s) you would like to present
  • Challenges faced and/or areas of collaboration

FEMA: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Riverine Campaign Helps Bridge the Gap Between Flood Risk and Awareness 

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The NFIP’s 2024 Riverine Flooding campaign launched this spring. Its goal is to raise awareness of the unique risks faced by property owners and renters who live and work near rivers. It focuses on counties that lie along major waterways in Regions 1 through 8. This includes the Mississippi, Hudson, Rio Grande, Susquehanna, Ohio, and Red Rivers. Market segmentation and National Risk Index data were used to choose counties. 

Learn more here.

3-Sided Cube: AI Adoption in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

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3-Sided Cube has released a report to examine potential AI applications and ethical questions. The goal of the report is to get a pulse on actual AI usage in purpose-led organizations and shed light on how AI can be used effectively in the face of disasters.

Learn more here

National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA): Communications and Innovative Water Projects Nominations Open

NAFSMA recognizes projects each year that raise public awareness for flooding and water quality. It also highlights clever water projects that achieve multiple benefits. This could include water conservation, recreation, and environmental justice. The goal of this work is to advance innovation and teamwork in water infrastructure projects. The nomination application deadline is July 31, 2024.  

Learn more here.

Parametrix: Oregon Department of Energy Cooling Needs Study

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The Oregon Cooling Needs Study arose after the 2021 heatwave. It aims to learn the cooling needs of Oregonians and focuses on vulnerable housing types. This study is part of broader efforts to address heat-related risks due to climate change.  

Learn more here.

Terrazia: The Resilient Design Collaborative (RDC) 

The Resilient Design Collaborative’s (RDC) mission is to work with the building design and construction community to promote and create sustainably resilient projects that resist, absorb, recover from, or successfully adapt to manmade and natural hazards. Participants in the collaborative developed a phased action plan to demonstrate how to educate project stakeholders, evaluate project risks, and prioritize resilient design performance goals.

To learn more about the RDC, please contact Steve Sunderman steve@terrazia.com. 

Garrison Flood Control: Flood Risks and Impact on School Infrastructure

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Floods are growing more common due to climate change. As such, schools are evaluating and addressing the risks their property and facilities face. This blog highlights the increased risk flood events pose for school infrastructure, which may not be able to withstand such events. 

Learn more here.

Environmental Defense Fund: Wetlands at Risk in Florida

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In a new article, Environmental Defense Fund experts comment on risks to wetlands in Florida. 

Learn more here.

Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire

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Do you have a story to tell? The RNPN wants to learn more about your journey toward 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 the  Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire  website to learn more. 

New Resources

CREW: A New Podcast Features Geologic Hazard Portals

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CREW released a Ready to Recover podcast. In it, geologists talk about state geologic portals. These are interactive tools. Anyone can use them to learn about the earthquake hazard where they live.  

Learn more here.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Sediment Management Guide Supports Coastal Resilience by Identifying Path to Efficient Permitting 

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The new Efficient Permitting Roadmap for Coastal Sediment Management on the north-central California coast helps readers work through permit reviews. This includes everything from tidal marsh, beach, and dune restoration to the beneficial use of sediment. 

Learn more here.

FEMA Seeks National Resilience Guidance Input

FEMA wants feedback on the draft National Resilience Guidance.This guidance will help build a shared understanding of resilience; highlight the vital relationship between community stressors and shocks; address the roles of all stakeholders to build national resilience; and provide a community resilience growth model with concrete steps. This will help communities plan and carry out resilience projects. 

FEMA will host a series of four 60-minute webinar sessions in May. These sessions will detail the National Resilience Guidance. They will also gather feedback and real-world resilience case studies from whole community partners. A line-numbered version of the draft guide will be available. It will let people share comments on certain areas within the document. This national engagement period will end on May 23, 2024.  

Keep an eye on the National Resilience Guidance webpage for registration information. 

National Center for Disaster Preparedness: New Web-Based Trainings

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Web-based trainings are currently available for mass care and relocation, pandemic planning, post-disaster housing, and economic disaster recovery. You can complete these free, web-based trainings on your own time. 

Learn more here.
CAP

FEMA: Climate Adaptation Planning for Emergency Managers

FEMA released the “Climate Adaptation Planning: Guidance for Emergency Managers.” The goal of the guide is to walk state, local, tribal, and territorial partners through the Six Step Planning Process. Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans describes this process. The climate guide also highlights existing climate mapping tools, trainings, and potential funding resources. 

FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions covering  the sections and appendices of the climate guide. They will include structured talks with stakeholders. They will also preview upcoming supporting materials and provide information on the Emergency Management Institute’s new Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Certificate Program as well. To learn more and register for the webinars, click here. 

Read more here.
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Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Unlocking Community Resilience: Innovative Strategies to Access Climate Adaptation Funding

This recent publication uses case studies to illustrate examples to be applied across a many resilience needs. Community efforts to adapt to the physical impacts of climate change are lagging despite the high amounts of financing available for resilience in the United States. Local and state governments and organizations are looking for ways to address key challenges and help communities access resilience funding. These innovative strategies include: 

  1. Boosting local capacity to plan projects and access funding. This will feature Colorado’s Regional Grant Navigators. 
  2. Stacking public and private funding to implement and scale projects. This will feature the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Urban Forest Initiative. 
  3. Streamlining access to multiple financial resources for end users. This will feature the Impact Development Fund’s Disaster Recovery Program. 

Read more here.
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U.S. Global Change Research Program: First National Nature Assessment Announced

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) supports collaboration and cooperation across 15 federal member agencies. This work helps people learn of the changing Earth system. As part of this mission, USGCRP assesses the state of global change science and its impacts. The Department of Homeland Security has been a member of the USGCRP since February 2023. Many FEMA staff worked as authors on the recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment. The USGCRP has announced it will develop the first-ever National Nature Assessment with authors already selected for the forthcoming report.