No targeting funding for communities, but the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction may help with coordination. For more info, see the United Nations Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready website.
Author Archive | Wesley Shaw
New Climate Change Adaptation Tools
Posted on December 2, 2010
Last month, ICLEI (founded as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, but now going by “ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability”) released some new tools as part of their new climate adaptation program for local governments. While the program isn’t specifically targeting coastal communities, most of the resources they’re sharing will be useful for those working […]
While the Debate Continues, Sea Levels Keep Rising [CASE STUDY]
Posted on December 1, 2010
Interesting article on how one town (Norfolk, VA) is struggling with rising sea levels and shrinking budgets. If only this were a novel conundrum. . . . “Front-Line City in Virginia Tackles Rise in Sea“.
Why and How Businesses (and Municipalities) can Prepare for Disasters
Posted on November 17, 2010
The folks over at the Education Disaster Education Network (EDEN) have come up with a brief video explaining why it’s so critical that businesses develop a business continuity and disaster preparedness plan. Easy enough to translate most of it for municipal offices/departments, too. Worth a quick watch, and a good outreach tool you can use […]
FEMA Now Offering Live Chat with Map Specialists
Posted on November 9, 2010
This in the latest newsletter from FEMA: The FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) is pleased to announce a new exciting service: Live Chat. Live Chat will allow FEMA stakeholders to interact with Map Specialists real-time via an online forum. Specialists can field inquiries pertaining to a wide variety of topics including Letters of Map Change, […]
Model Bylaw for Managing Coastal Floodplain Development
Posted on November 5, 2010
Any of us who have worked in more than one coastal community know this simple truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all activity to make communities safer from storms and flooding. Geography and geology vary. Community goals and political climates vary. Organizational structures within communities vary (Do you have a mayor? A town manager? A Board of Selectmen?). […]
Oak Bluffs Passes Forward-Thinking Floodplain Regulation
Posted on November 2, 2010
The community of Oak Bluffs has joined Chatham (PDF) in passing a progressive bylaw that should help guide safe development in their coastal floodplains. Here’s the blurb from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s ever-useful CZ-Mail: On September 16, the Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to adopt special permit regulations (PDF, […]
New Hurricane Science and Society Website
Posted on October 28, 2010
The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography launched a new website this week: Hurricanes: Science and Society. The site has loads of information on the science of hurricanes, methods of observing hurricanes, and modeling and forecasting of hurricanes. In addition to in-depth science content, the website includes educational resources, case studies, and a […]
Free StormSmart Building Seminar: [November 17th, Plymouth]
Posted on October 27, 2010
The towns of Plymouth, Kingston and Duxbury and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s StormSmart Coasts program are hosting a free workshop on building in the coastal floodplain on November 17th at Plymouth Town Hall. Members of the construction industry and local officials are invited to participate. The agenda is as follows: 8:30 (AM) […]
Quick Proof that Building Codes Work [video]
Posted on October 27, 2010
The Institute for Business and Home Safety built a proper hurricane making machine, then constructed two homes in front of it. One was built to standard building codes, the other to their “Fortified for Safer Living” code. They turned the hurricane on and, well, you can see the results. Wow. Show this the next time […]