Regional Resilience Conference:  Networking to Protect Boston's Academic Economy from Disaster 

Erik BensonPeter MoneaSean PfalzerBrad Rosse

Flooding•Climate Change•Below Sea Level

Earthquake•Cape Ann 1755 6.3•Haiti 200 year gap

Hurricane•Sept 19-22 1938•Narrow miss•700 dead

Blizzard•Feb. 5-7 1978•30” Snow•Damages $520,000,000

Hazard RISK

Hazard RISK

• 52+ Universities and Colleges• 360,000+ Students• 69,000+ Employees

FEMA

MEMA

Boston University

Harvard

Wellesley College

Northeastern

Emmanuel College

Curry College

Tufts College

Wellesley

Quincy

Boston

Cambridge

Brookline

Salem

Salem State

Medford

Waltham

MAPC Boston Consortium

Disaster Planning and Collaboration

StudentPopulatio

n

Land Use

What's Missing?•Gaps•Conflicts•Opportunities

Evacuation

Funding

Resources

Why?•Communication •Boundary overlaps•Accountability

Hazard Impact

InstitutionalDisruption

Slow Regional Economic Recovery

Economic Interdependence

Students & Parents

Faculty

TransportationInfrastructure

Research

Private Sector Relationships

Metropolitan Boston

Vendors

Public Services

Municipalities

Diversity &Interdependence

Direct Economic Impact

IndiaChina

Netherlands

Indonesia

USA

•Regional Employment (from cleaning to PhD.)

•Building & infrastructure spending

•Special events, conventions, athletic events

•Public & private grants and contracts for research

•Expenditures by visitors and alumni

“Comparing regional and national data further highlights the concentration of college and university employment in the Boston area. Private colleges and universities account for 6.0 percent of all private employment in the region – but less than 1.5 percent of all private employment nationwide.“ - Investing in Innovation: H Harvard University

Indirect & Induced Economic Impact

IndiaChina

Netherlands

Indonesia

USAMIT Alumni Companies

Active Companies formed by MIT Graduates would create the 17th largest world economy

What about BU? Harvard? (Facebook, Microsoft)

Human, Creative and Social Capital

IndiaChina

Netherlands

Indonesia

USA

Short and Long Term Economic Impacts

Land UseReconstructionShared Resources

Student PopulationDisaster Research FundingEvacuation

Students of the Region Car-less

17% live off campus

Renters

From out of state

MIT – 92%

Harvard – 85%

BU – 80%

Tufts – 79%

Brandeis – 74%

EconomicInterdependence

Regional Resilience Conference

Metropolitan Boston Higher Education Disaster Network Conference

Convene stakeholders:

• Municipalities

• Colleges & Universities

• Students & Faculty

• Insurers

• MEMA & FEMA

Facilitate open dialogue:

• Speakers/Presentations

• Small & Large group discussions

• Follow up sessions

Current Disaster Planning

Networked Planning

Bricklig

ht C

ou

rtyard

Potential Outcomes

Student Vulnerability

•Develop resources to address student vulnerabilities

o Mapping, Guides, Training

Additional Outcomes

•Utilize faculty and staff expertise

•Identify funding sources

•Promote safe reconstruction methods and land-use policy

Limitations:

• Voluntary

• Power dynamics may impede

genuine dialogue

• Limited audience

• Temporary

Questions?Comments?