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August 2024
REGISTER NOW August Resilience Exchange: Managing Multi-Hazard Risks
Climate change continues to influence the complexity and frequency of multiple weather-related hazards. Hurricanes, flooding, extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and more all pose major challenges. Join the RNPN as we explore how various weather hazards are connected and the strategies we need to build climate resilience. If you know someone who may be interested, feel free to share this event with your network.
September Resilience Exchange
CALL FOR NEXT GENERATION SUBMISSIONS
The Next Generation of Resilience Exchange showcases the work of students and young resilience professionals. Featured panelists will get to share their perspectives on the future of resilience.
- Are you a student or young professional, 18 years of age or older, or do you know someone who is a great fit for this opportunity? If so, please submit your story by Tuesday, August 27. Four students will be chosen to share their story at this event.
- Students and young professionals can add this resume-building experience to employment and graduate school applications.
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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 EPA’s Nonpoint Source program and Watershed Academy released web-based training called “Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management.” The training helps professionals add water quality issues, water resource management, and nature-based practices into state or local hazard mitigation plans (HMPs). Planners from both fields can explore shared interests and benefits. Case studies and real examples show planners how to connect with water resource programs through HMPs. Watershed planners can also learn how water resource plans and HMPs can support each other.
Learn more here.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: Tribal and Community-Based Organizations Gain Access to Public Grants and Philanthropic Funding
Philanthropy California and the governor’s Office of Emergency Services have teamed up to build resilience in the state. They will provide virtual and in-person grant writing training. They will also host events and give one-on-one technical assistance. This work will support nonprofits, community-based groups, and Tribal Nations as they work to build resilience.
Learn more here.
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Partner News
FEMA: Natural and Nature-Based Solutions Job Aids - An Innovative Solution for Recurrent Problems in Puerto Rico
On June 21, the Community Assistance Recovery Support Function and the Hazard Mitigation Division of DR-4339-PR launched three Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Solutions Workshop. This is a collaborative effort to promote sustainable solutions to Puerto Rico's recurrent flooding problems.
The objective is to apply natural and nature-based solutions in three major areas. These include sand dune protection, streambank stabilization, and stormwater management.
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Climate Resilience Fund: The Climate Smart Communities Initiative Awards More Than $1 Million to 11 Communities
The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) announced its initial awards. More than $1 million will go to help communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
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FEMA: Upcoming Release - National Resilience Guidance
FEMA will release its National Resilience Guidance (NRG) on Aug. 27. The NRG focuses on actionable principles to create a more resilient nation ranging from identifying the risks of threats and hazards to working collaboratively towards sustainable solutions. Importantly, the NRG addresses resilience actions that are scalable for implementation by all communities and partners. The NRG was developed through extensive outreach and input from across federal, state, local, tribal, territorial governments, non-profit associations, emergency managers, faith organizations and community groups. FEMA will host webinars in September to provide an overview of the NRG. Keep an eye on the National Resilience Guidance webpage for the NRG release and webinar registration information and please share this information with your partners!
San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative: Uplifting the Critical Value of the LGBTQ+ Climate Workforce
San Diego’s climate practitioners benefit from the expertise and leadership of the LGBTQ+ community. This blog aims to lift up the voices of professionals working in the climate space. It highlights the challenges they navigated throughout their careers.
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DRI: Share Your Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Cyberattacks and More!
Guide your profession by taking DRI International’s annual survey. Your input will help create a resource for the media, analysts, and everyone concerned with resilience. This year's survey includes new questions on artificial intelligence, one of today’s biggest issues.
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Natural Hazards Center: Becoming a Hazards and Disaster Professional: Steps for Students
The Natural Hazards Center hosted the webinar "Becoming a Hazards and Disaster Professional: Steps for Students" on Aug. 13. The webinar explored strategies for students interested in disaster risk reduction and hazard mitigation practice or practice-based research. Speakers offered knowledge and guidance on how to integrate experiential learning into academics; discuss aspects such as service-based projects, practice-focused research, and internships; and offer other valuable insights for students who want to actively contribute to building resilient communities. The recording is now available.
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Missouri State Emergency Management Agency: Missouri SAVE Coalition Evaluates Buildings During a Simulated Large Earthquake in Downtown St. Louis
On July 17, Missouri’s Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (SAVE) Coalition participated in a large-scale earthquake simulation in downtown St. Louis. The exercise involved about 500 responders, including the National Guard, the city of St. Louis, and various agencies. The simulation included bridge outages requiring helicopter support and temporary bridge construction over the Mississippi River.
SAVE’s role was to evaluate damaged buildings, deploying around 50 volunteers who assessed over 200 structures using photoshopped images to simulate damage. They used CUSEC’s building evaluation app to document and display findings, with results monitored in real-time by the National Guard and local agencies. SAVE partnered with the Civil Air Patrol for drone imagery and collaborated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which provided a command vehicle.
“We learned a lot in this exercise,” said Ben Ross, SAVE’s exercise coordinator, emphasizing the value of partnerships and the success of their volunteers.
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Environmental Defense Fund: Raising Awareness on the Need for Flood Disclosure
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is raising awareness of flood disclosure. Their landing page details its support for the need for policies that require sellers or landlords to disclose a property’s flood risk to prospective buyers and renters. The EDF explains that this transparency allows for more informed decision-making and preparedness.
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Union of Concerned Scientists: Ask a Scientist - What Happens When Sea Level Rise Threatens Public Housing?
The UCS report, Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience, which predicts risks across a range of infrastructure such as schools, power stations, and hospitals, finds that public and affordable housing represents the largest category of assets at risk of regular inundation. Report co-author Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director, and Zoe Middleton, Associate Director of Just Climate Resilience—both for the UCS Climate and Energy Program—were interviewed by the Ask a Scientist program on the implications of their findings for public and affordable housing.
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Environmental Defense Fund: The Evolution of Florida's Public-Private Approach To Property Insurance
The Environmental Defense Fund recently released a report with an overview of Florida's risk profile and the implications for the private insurance sector, explaining the challenges with insuring disaster risks. Florida's insurance market is unique. It has fewer national insurers and more regional firms than other states. The state faces ongoing challenges in balancing risk reduction, affordability, and financial stability.
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Coastal Flood Resilience: White Paper
The Coastal Flood Resilience Project is a coalition that works for stronger programs to prepare for coastal storm flooding and rising sea levels. This white paper recommends that the federal government take steps to strengthen assessments of flood risks from tropical storms and hurricanes on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
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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.
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New Resources
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FEMA: 2023 FEMA Resilience Year in Review
FEMA is excited to share the 2023 FEMA Resilience Year in Review report. It highlights the significant strides FEMA Resilience has made to enhance the nation’s preparedness and resilience. The report gives an overview of the direct support to the nation’s communities as we face escalating climate challenges. It also details Resilience’s work promoting equity, expanding climate resilience programs and improving community readiness.
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 Rebuild By Design: Atlas of Accountability - Mapping Climate Disasters Across Congressional Districts
As extreme weather continues to affect the U.S., Rebuild by Design has launched the Atlas of Accountability. This mapping tool is designed to help communities and policymakers understand their local exposure to extreme weather disasters. This tool builds on Rebuild by Design’s 2022 report, Atlas of Disaster. It analyzes county-level extreme weather disaster declarations and post-disaster federal assistance.
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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 across 15 federal member agencies. This work helps people learn about the changing Earth system. As part of this mission, the 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.
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