Hazard Resilient Coastal Hazard Resilient Coastal Community IndexCommunity Index

Keelin KuipersKeelin Kuipers

WAS*IS Workshop IIWAS*IS Workshop II

March 13, 2006March 13, 2006

Why Develop a Why Develop a Coastal Resilience Index?Coastal Resilience Index?

Coastal managers have expressed a need for tools to Coastal managers have expressed a need for tools to enhance hazard resilience from a variety of perspectives, enhance hazard resilience from a variety of perspectives, but approaches tend to be fragmented.but approaches tend to be fragmented.

Coastal communities have a unique set of challenges:Coastal communities have a unique set of challenges:– Prone to weather related (and non-weather related) hazardsProne to weather related (and non-weather related) hazards– Diverse topography, socio-economic characteristics, culture, etc.Diverse topography, socio-economic characteristics, culture, etc.– More than 60% of the U.S. population More than 60% of the U.S. population – More than 50% of the U.S. economy More than 50% of the U.S. economy

But, the problem still needs to be further defined….But, the problem still needs to be further defined….

What Do We Mean by a Coastal What Do We Mean by a Coastal Resilience Index?Resilience Index?

Still very much a work in progress…..Still very much a work in progress….. Initial concepts:Initial concepts:

– a framework for communities at all levels to assess and a framework for communities at all levels to assess and improve their resilience to hazards improve their resilience to hazards

– Goal for the framework is to define key resilience Goal for the framework is to define key resilience factors, identify critical interdependencies and enable factors, identify critical interdependencies and enable community-based adaptive management techniquescommunity-based adaptive management techniques

– Ultimately, develop a toolkit and community of practice Ultimately, develop a toolkit and community of practice

focusing on assessment, decision support, information, focusing on assessment, decision support, information, and capacity building resourcesand capacity building resources

Communities are hazard resilient

Relevant hazards are recognized and understood.

Communities at risk know when a hazard event is imminent and how best to respond.

Individuals at risk are safe from hazards in their homes and places of work.

Hazard-resilient communities experience minimum disruption to life and economy after a hazard event has passed.

Hazard and disaster information is available where and when it is needed.

Users understand the natural processes that produce hazards.

Hazard mitigation strategies and technologies are applied.

Decision makers recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent human, physical and environmental systems.

Disaster resilience is assessed and applied using standard methods.

Users promote risk-wise behavior.

Goals

VisionLong-Term Outcomes

Feb 27, 2006Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction Grand Challenges Hazard Resilience Logic Model

Data collection is improved to increase understanding of the ways in which hazards evolve.

Standards are created for sharing, storing, and analyzing data.

Improvements are made in hazards information access..

Advancements in forecasting capabilities are enabled through improved modeling.

Improvements are made in hazards visualization and communication techniques.

Advanced building technologies are created for resilient structures and infrastructure systems.

Resiliency lessons are learned from hazard events and incorporated into assessment methods.

Nonstructural mitigation techniques and strategies are developed.

Economic models are developed for quantifying monetary benefits of mitigation.

Advancements are made in hazard mitigation communications and outreach capabilities

The ability to protect public health before and after a hazard event is enhanced.

Advancements are made in science & technology to prevent cascading failures in public infrastructure systems.

Interdependencies among physical, societal, economic and ecological systems are better understood and communicated to users.

Risk assessment technologies are developed to support resilient community planning and investment strategies

Assessment techniques for resilience of the natural and human environment are developed.

Public awareness of local hazards is increased.

Advancements are made in hazards communication systems with messages that are consistent, accessible, and actionable.

Policies based in sound social science research are developed to promote risk-wise behavior.

Near-Term Outcomes

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT

How will a Coastal Resilience Index How will a Coastal Resilience Index be developed?be developed?

Engaging potential partners within and outside of NOAA to assess:Engaging potential partners within and outside of NOAA to assess:– What is already being done/unifying conceptsWhat is already being done/unifying concepts– Where are the gapsWhere are the gaps– How to fill those gapsHow to fill those gaps

Community resilience bibliography in progressCommunity resilience bibliography in progress

Develop plan to move forward concept Develop plan to move forward concept

Upcoming events Upcoming events – Restoration 2006, New Orleans (May)Restoration 2006, New Orleans (May)– Natural Hazards Center Workshop, Boulder (July)Natural Hazards Center Workshop, Boulder (July)– Restore America’s Estuaries Conference, New Orleans (December) Restore America’s Estuaries Conference, New Orleans (December)

Why Develop a Coastal Why Develop a Coastal Resilience Index Now?Resilience Index Now?

Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction (Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, June 2005)(Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, June 2005)– Serves as starting point for the CRI frameworkServes as starting point for the CRI framework

2005 Hurricane Season2005 Hurricane Season– Highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities and Highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities and

raised the visibility of this issue nationallyraised the visibility of this issue nationally

NOAA Priority SettingNOAA Priority Setting– Hazard Resilient Communities and Businesses an Hazard Resilient Communities and Businesses an

emerging themeemerging theme

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Does the concept of developing a CRI make Does the concept of developing a CRI make sense? Is it compelling?sense? Is it compelling?

Who do we need to engage in the weather Who do we need to engage in the weather and social science communities to develop and social science communities to develop the CRI?the CRI?

Is WAS*IS a forum to continue engaging as Is WAS*IS a forum to continue engaging as the CRI concept is developed? the CRI concept is developed?