1. Hazard Resilient Coastal Community Index Keelin Kuipers WAS*IS Workshop II March 13, 2006

2. Why Develop a Coastal Resilience Index?  Coastal managers have expressed a need for tools to enhance hazard resilience from a variety of perspectives, but approaches tend to be fragmented.  Coastal communities have a unique set of challenges: –Prone to weather related (and non-weather related) hazards –Diverse topography, socio-economic characteristics, culture, etc. –More than 60% of the U.S. population –More than 50% of the U.S. economy  But, the problem still needs to be further defined….

3. What Do We Mean by a Coastal Resilience Index?  Still very much a work in progress…..  Initial concepts: –a framework for communities at all levels to assess and improve their resilience to hazards –Goal for the framework is to define key resilience factors, identify critical interdependencies and enable community-based adaptive management techniques –Ultimately, develop a toolkit and community of practice focusing on assessment, decision support, information, and capacity building resources

4. 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 Vision Long-Term Outcomes Feb 27, 2006 Subcommittee 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

5. How will a Coastal Resilience Index be developed?  Engaging potential partners within and outside of NOAA to assess: –What is already being done/unifying concepts –Where are the gaps –How to fill those gaps  Community resilience bibliography in progress  Develop plan to move forward concept  Upcoming events –Restoration 2006, New Orleans (May) –Natural Hazards Center Workshop, Boulder (July) –Restore America’s Estuaries Conference, New Orleans (December)

6. Why Develop a Coastal Resilience Index Now?  Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction (Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, June 2005) –Serves as starting point for the CRI framework  2005 Hurricane Season –Highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities and raised the visibility of this issue nationally  NOAA Priority Setting –Hazard Resilient Communities and Businesses an emerging theme

7. Discussion Questions  Does the concept of developing a CRI make sense? Is it compelling?  Who do we need to engage in the weather and social science communities to develop the CRI?  Is WAS*IS a forum to continue engaging as the CRI concept is developed?