|
June 2024
RNPN Partner Connect: LAST 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 among partners. The next Partner Connect will be on Wednesday, July 24 at 1 p.m. ET.
The RNPN is seeking partners to share their projects and challenges to receive feedback and assistance from fellow partners regarding their ongoing work. If your organization would like to receive guidance and feedback from the partnership network, we invite you to submit a proposal.
If you would like to present your work during this session, or if you have questions about the session, please email FEMA-ResilientNation@fema.dhs.gov by 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 21. Please include the following information in your proposal:
- Subject line: "Partner Connect Proposal"
- Organization name
- Brief summary of the project(s) you would like to present
- Challenges faced and/or areas of collaboration
|
|
FEMA Events:
Conferences and Workshops to Note:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
EPA: Free Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Assistance
Drinking water, wastewater, water reuse and stormwater utilities, along with other water sector stakeholders, are eligible to receive free climate change risk assessment technical assistance from EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative. Through this technical assistance process, CRWU will assist approximately 75 water sector utilities and communities in identifying long-term climate change adaptation strategies, as well as potential funding options to implement adaptive measures. CRWU supports utilities concerned with climate threats including drought, ecosystem changes, floods, service demand and use and water quality degradation. Please indicate your interest to receive this free technical assistance opportunity by emailing to Aliza Furneaux (furneaux.aliza@epa.gov) no later than Friday, August 15. EPA will notify the utilities chosen to receive technical assistance by early September. Visit EPA CRWU’s Adaptation Case Studies Map to see what other utilities have already done related to water reuse, such as the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (CA), City of San Diego (CA) and Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority (NM).
Learn more here.
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 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). The course 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 Helps Tribal and Community-Based Organizations 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
ARISE-US: Call for Housing Industry Contacts for Sustainability and Resilience Study
ARISE-US is exploring the intersections between sustainability and resilience, and how these sometimes support each other, and sometimes need to be traded off. The purpose of this study is to create guidance for companies about how to maximize sustainability and resilience together - effectively and profitably. ARISE-US would like to interview subjects from a house-building company who may be working in this field. They would like to understand where that industry has reached its prevailing thinking and so on. Interviews will take about 45 minutes and can be anonymous if desired.
If you would like to help, or can refer a colleague, please contact Peter Williams, Chair of ARISE-US, at rpwilliams1958@gmail.com.
|
City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency: Honolulu Flood Insurance Outreach Project
In the past five years, O‘ahu residents participating in the NFIP claimed more than $27.4 million in loss and damages. Honolulu's Resilience Office conducted a Flood Risk Survey informing an outreach campaign empowering residents to move towards mitigating their flood risk.
|
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 of 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.
|
ARISE-US: Call for Digital Technology and AI Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Examples
|
ARISE-US is working with UNDRR and NASA to explore the benefits and drawbacks of digital technology and AI disaster risk reduction (DRR). ARISE-US is seeking examples of use cases or case studies about AI, showing how users have addressed potential issues of bias, fragility, privacy, etc., as well as how users have pursued benefits in the context of DRR. The ARISE-US focus is on the full sweep of DRR. This includes climate adaptation and mitigation, disaster preparation, community engagement, response and recovery.
If you have questions or would like to contribute, please contact Peter Williams, Chair of ARISE-US, at rpwilliams1958@gmail.com.
|
FEMA: Region 1 Interagency Recovery Coordination Fosters Resiliency in Disaster Recovery
FEMA Region 1’s Recovery Division has established a quickly growing Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC) team to lead effective and collaborative long-term recovery efforts in support of all six states and 10 Tribal Nations in Region 1. IRC is supporting the region in the steady-state and post-disaster environments. IRC engages stakeholders collaboratively to identify and leverage resources or partnerships to strengthen local capacity. In doing so, they are fostering resilience by leveraging partners at every level of government to ensure a holistic recovery approach that addresses state, local, and/or tribal immediate and long-term goals.
For more information, or if you are located in FEMA Region 1 and would like to connect with the team, please contact Shalissa Coutoulakis at Shalissa.coutoulakis@fema.dhs.gov.
|
Geos Institute: Climate Ready America Demonstration Project
The Geos Institute's Climate Ready America initiative is underway with a project called the Southeast Navigator Network. This project establishes Navigators in four states to serve as trusted partners to Community Disaster Resilience Zone communities. It helps them take advantage of funding sources, identify capacity building opportunities, and secure the technical support needed to create tangible resilience benefits. The Navigators will also network and support each other, fostering collaboration between communities and across the four states. The project is planning the first Climate Innovation Center in Georgia.
|
North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency: North Carolina Launches the NC Resilience Exchange
The NC Resilience Exchange is an online toolbox for building equitable resilience using reliable data and trusted resources. The site includes success stories, an action database, climate projections, vulnerability maps, and funding opportunities curated for NC communities and a database of experts willing to help.
For more information, please contact Nicole Goddard at nicole.goddard@ncdps.gov.
|
University of Arizona: Research Supporting Two New National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) Centers
Department of Commerce and NOAA-led grant competitions established two NIHHIS Centers of Excellence, one in Durham, North Carolina and the other in Los Angeles, California. These centers will rely on research from the University of Arizona and other institutions and will receive a combined total of $4.55 million in funds over three years. The Durham, North Carolina center will assist community organizations with conducting local climate and health studies. The Los Angeles, California center will support heat risk reduction decision-making through applied climate and health research and analysis. The centers will work with historically excluded communities to broaden the impact and benefits of participatory science, heat data and information, and decision-making tools to communities not yet served by these resources.
|
Wetlands Watch: Partnership with NASA DEVELOP to Address Critical Wetlands Loss in Hampton Roads
Wetlands Watch and NASA DEVELOP are teaming up to combat wetlands loss using cutting-edge Earth observation technology. This innovative project highlights how transforming select urban areas into wetland habitats offers new hope in the era of sea level rise.
For more information, please contact Eric Caldwell at Eric.caldwell@wetlandswatch.org.
|
Boston Food Forest Coalition: Boston-Area Workshops, Events and Community Work Days for Climate and Community Resilience
The Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC) is a network of public edible parks that builds climate resilience into Boston neighborhoods. BFFC offers year-round opportunities to get involved in their work and learn resilience-building practices to bring to other communities.
|
Circular Economy Lab (I2CE Lab): Andros | The Bahamas – A Blueprint for Resilient Communities of the Future
Andros Island, rich in natural resources yet challenged by environmental and social issues, offers a model for sustainable development. One key project includes a freshwater bottling plant to protect the freshwater lens and create jobs. Another involves a sargassum processing facility to turn invasive seaweed into biodegradable products. A third works on hydroponic farms to enhance food security and employment. These projects focus on community ownership, social cohesion, and economic independence, forming a resilient feedback loop, a circular economy. This approach ensures that social, environmental and economic resilience is built from the ground up, empowering local communities to thrive despite external pressures. By implementing these strategies, Andros can serve as a blueprint for other regions facing similar issues.
For more information, please contact Professor Dr. Ingeborg Rocker at Irocker3@gatech.edu.
|
FEMA: NFIP’s Hurricane Season Campaign Aims to Reach Audiences at Risk for Hurricanes
This June, FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) enters the second month of its six-month 2024 Hurricane Season Campaign. The campaign focuses on raising awareness of increased flood risk within hurricane-prone states and encouraging property owners and renters to get a flood insurance quote.
|
Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire
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
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.
|
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Sediment Management Guide Supports Coastal Resilience by Identifying Path to Efficient Permitting
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.
|
National Center for Disaster Preparedness: New Web-Based Training
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.
|
|
FEMA: Climate Adaptation Planning for Emergency Managers
|
North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency: NC Heat Action Plan Toolkit
NC Heat Action Plan Toolkit gives local governments concrete tools to address extreme heat. This new resource includes a template plan, recommended actions, sample messaging, and graphics. It explains how to identify the residents most at-risk for heat-related health impacts. The toolkit also provides temperature thresholds, so communities know when to activate their heat management programs.
|
U.S. Global Change Research Program: First National Nature Assessment Announced
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) supports collaboration 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.
|
|
|
|
