The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements, events, and funding opportunities along with links to the previous month's local, state, and national resilience news.
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Resilient Connecticut Project Updates |
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Register for the Resilient Connecticut Nov. 20th Summit
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While waiting for today's election results, why not REGISTER for the second Resilient Connecticut Summit to be held on November 20, 2020? This half-day, virtual event is open to the public and free to attend. Participants will learn about CIRCA's recent Resilient Connecticut project activities, participate in breakouts with partners, and hear from a keynote speaker. View a detailed agenda on the Summit Website and register by November 17 (a link to join the event will be sent to registrants on November 19). This event is eligible for 2.75 hours of CM credit through the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association.
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Resilient Connecticut Stakeholder Evaluation Survey Closed Nov. 1st |
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Dr. Miriah Russo Kelly, Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Environmental, Geography, and Marine Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University, worked with the CIRCA team to develop a stakeholder evaluation survey. The survey was distributed to a variety of organizations that may use or be impacted by the Resilient Connecticut project. The survey was designed to assess their interests, needs, and preferences. The results will inform the products and planning process for the project. If you have any questions about the survey, please email Dr. Miriah Russo Kelly. If you have questions about the Resilient Connecticut project, please email CIRCA's Dr. Joanna Wozniak-Brown.
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New Dataset Models Long Island Sound Extreme Storms |
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A coastal circulation and wave model (FVCOM-SWAVE) for the highest 44 storms between 1950 and 2018 is available for Long Island Sound. The hourly outputs of water level and wave height from 44 simulations in NetCDF format are provided (NetCDF data covers Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, and the adjacent shelf south of Long Island). The duration for each storm simulation is between 5 to 8 days. As described in a recent journal article the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) mean results “are higher for water levels and lower for significant wave heights for longer return periods” compared to CIRCA's model. Comparison with the FEMA results also show differences in eastern and western LIS. In addition to evaluating historic risks, CIRCA also added a sea-level height offset of 20 inches for 2050 estimates in order to examine the effect of rising sea-levels on the analysis. "We find that sea-level rise reduces the return period of a ten year storm to two years.” To help decision-makers better understand extreme storms, CIRCA now has products available from this study (please email CIRCA's Dr. Yaprak Onat with questions):
Dataset of storm surge and significant wave heights for CT coastal towns.
Viewer for projected storm surge water levels and significant wave heights.
YouTube video explaining this new journal article's methodology and results.
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Equity and Environmental Justice in Climate Solutions GC3 Webinar Series
Thursdays in November from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
A series of 11 webinars from October thru November is being organized by the GC3 Equity & Environmental Justice Working Group to explore how climate change affects low-income people, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, people of color and other people who are at increased risk due to climate change.
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EcoAdapt's Part 5 Webinar: Policy Considerations at Multiple Scales
November 5, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Climate displacement and its associated adaptation strategies require effective policies across multiple governance scales. This webinar will feature recent policy recommendations for the federal, state, and local levels. It will discuss equity, justice, and human rights aspects to consider in policy-making and look ahead at policy solutions for communities that are recipients of climate migration.
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November 5, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Communities undertaking projects that reduce storm-related impacts are being helped by NOAA’s Coastal Resilience Grants. This webinar is part of a series designed to share the lessons learned from these projects and help ensure that infrastructure of today meets the flooding challenges of tomorrow. For information on this topic, you can join this webinar featuring a project by the Association of State Floodplain Managers and the American Planning Association.
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Join CIRCA at CT GIS Day 2020
November 6
CIRCA will share two presentations at CT GIS Day on Friday, November 6. This virtual event will be hosted by Central Connecticut State University and the CT GIS Network. Dr. Yaprak Onat will be presenting on “Assessing spatial coastal vulnerability of Connecticut coastal towns” and Caterina Massida, Data Analyst/Programmer with CIRCA, will present on “Updates on the Connecticut sea level rise and storm surge viewer.” The themes of GIS Day include public health, social justice, community engagement, and Connecticut-specific data. The event is free but registration is required. See more details on the event website.
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Sierra Club's Power to the People Webinar Series:
Part 2 - Why CT Needs More Distributed Energy
November 9, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Learn information about distributed energy solutions including energy efficiency, rooftop solar and battery storage, and about what needs to be done in Connecticut to deploy these tested and ready resources. By maximizing our distributed energy potential, Connecticut can become less reliant on climate related fossil fuels, distribute clean energy more equitably, create local jobs, and regain some control over the electricity grid.
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Climate Adaptation Forum's Creating Connections Webinar:
Resilience and Equity in Transportation
November 20, 10:00 am - 1:15 pm
Transportation infrastructure is some of the most expensive to build and maintain, especially in the face of the climate crisis. Everything from public transportation to roads and bridges to the port are deeply impacted by sea level rise, extreme storms and even sweltering heat. Join the Climate Adaptation Forum as they explore initiatives around the country to improve transportation resilience and the resilience of the communities that rely on this infrastructure to get around. Listen to experts at multiple levels of government who are thinking creatively about how to protect our infrastructure and how to make it responsive to changing needs.
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Northeast Multimodal and Transit Summit
November 23, 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
Join the Center for Latino Progress’s Transport Hartford Academy for the third annual 2020 Multimodal and Transit Summit on Monday, November 23rd. As we recover from a global pandemic that has changed so many things about our lives and work, the center is working to ensure that our transportation systems are sustainable, safe, and equitable. For more information on this Summit, visit the Center’s Summit Website.
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CAFM’s 7th Annual Conference
December 8 -10, 2020
The Connecticut Association of Flood Managers (CAFM) will convene its seventh Annual Conference and Meeting. In keeping with the theme of 2020, this year’s conference will be different, and will be held virtually in three 2- 1/2 hour sessions over three days: December 8, 9, and 10, featuring approximately four 30-minute presentations per day. Although the format will be different this year, the invitation is the same as always. CAFM invites you to share your experiences as municipal and state officials, industry leaders, consultants, and other interested parties to promote a more resilient Connecticut.
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Connecticut Climate Fact Sheets Now Available
Planning for adaptation requires local information about expected changes in climate. Until recently, the spatial scale of national climate projections did not allow for detailed regional analysis. With support from CT DEEP, CIRCA sponsored two recent, state-level climate assessments to better inform local decision-making. A recent announcement highlights the full reports and new fact sheets for sea level rise and temperature & precipitation projections in Connecticut.
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UConn Environment and Human Interactions Cluster Hire
Through the initiative on the Environment and Human Interactions, UConn seeks scholars committed to advancing knowledge about critical issues and developing interdisciplinary strategies to address environmental and societal harm. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UConn is inviting applications for four positions at the level of Assistant Professor and two positions at the Associate or Full Professor level as part of a cluster hire in the Environment and Human Interactions. The search seeks a range of scholars on subjects broadly related to climate change, pollution, water supply, policy, and society’s response.
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FEMA's $660 Million Grant Application Process
FEMA opened the application period for two competitive hazard mitigation grant programs totaling $660 million. The two grant programs, the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant (or BRIC) will provide funds to states, tribes, territories and local communities for eligible mitigation activities. The new BRIC grant is for pre-disaster mitigation activities and replaces FEMA’s existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. This year, $500 million is available for pre-disaster mitigation activities, including a $20 million tribal set-aside. BRIC priorities are to incentivize public infrastructure projects; projects that mitigate risk to one or more community lifelines; projects that incorporate nature-based solutions; and the adoption and enforcement of modern building codes. Both grant applications will be open from Sept. 30 – Jan. 21, 2021. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using the new FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO).
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MIT Climate Portal
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has released an overhaul of the MIT Climate Portal, a website that provides up-to-date, science-based information on the causes and consequences of climate change, along with strategies to tackle it. The portal features a comprehensive climate change primer, climate-related news, and brief “explainers” from MIT faculty and scientists that provide detailed overviews of topics such as wildfires, carbon pricing, renewable energy, and ocean acidification. The website also includes an “Ask MIT Climate” feature for users to ask questions of MIT faculty and scientists.
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Report on Fiscal Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities
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State and Regional News Clips |
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One Health Threat Affects all of Connecticut’s 3.5 Million Residents: Climate Change
The CT Mirror - October 2, 2020
On August 25, the Hartford area broke a 37-year-old record for the most days in a year with temperatures at or above 90 degrees. Two days later, Hurricane Laura was the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in southwestern Louisiana since recordkeeping started. Meanwhile, massive wildfires continue to rage across the western United States. It is abundantly clear that climate change is not a future event; it is happening now, and it affects our lives, and our health.
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Stratford Shoreline Protection Project Gets National Recognition
CT Post - October 4, 2020
STRATFORD — An erosion control project led by two universities and a climate adaptation group has won a “Restored Shore” award from a coastal protection organization. The project — called the Stratford Point Living Shoreline — is “an outstanding example of how to work with multiple partners and nature to solve some of our most difficult human-caused coastal degradation problems,” the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association said in announcing the award.
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Building Sustainable Shorelines that Withstand Tides
Mirage News - October 7, 2020
The shorelines of Maine’s jagged coast accomplish far more than meet the eye. They are not just beautiful to look at. Shorelines quell the violence of storms, and they provide habitat for hundreds of living things – plant, avian, and aquatic. And they, like many other habitats, are under threat due to climate change, which brings higher seas and larger, more frequent storms that erode and weaken the foundation of our coasts.
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Boston Awarded Grant for Strategic Heat Resilience Planning Study
SmartCitiesWorld - October 13, 2020
The City of Boston has been awarded a $280,070 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant that will fund the city’s first heat resilience study. City leaders regard this as an essential next step in preparing for the projected increases in extreme heat events due to climate change over the coming decades. The Heat Resilience Planning Study is a critical component of Climate Ready Boston, an initiative to develop resilient solutions that will prepare the city for the effects of climate change.
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Q&A: When in Drought, Build Resilience
Uconn Today - October 16, 2020
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11 Local Municipalities Receive $75,000 in Funding to Support Open Space & Resiliency Projects in South Jersey
South Jersey Observer - October 3, 2020
Atlantic City Electric, together with its program administrator, Sustainable Jersey, have chosen 11 local municipalities to receive $75,000 in funds to support open space and resiliency projects in South Jersey. This funding is provided as part of Atlantic City Electric’s Sustainable Communities Grant program, which was launched earlier this year to support open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, environmental conservation and innovative community resiliency projects.
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Climate Watch: Sea Level Rise
NBC - KXAN news - Oct 21, 2020
One of the many effects of our changing climate is the rise in global sea level. Since the start of record-keeping (1880), the global sea level has risen 8″-9″… a third of that happening in the last 25 years. The rise in global sea level, or the average height of the ocean around the world, is used in the discussion of climate change. Regional or local sea levels vary – some rising, others falling, some even staying stagnant.
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In Virginia, Sea-Level Rise and Flooding Prompt New Strategy
As sea levels continue to rise along the Atlantic coast, Virginia is projected to experience almost 5 feet of increase by 2080, submerging an additional 649 square miles of land, according to state estimates. To address this growing threat to shoreline communities, officials in Virginia will promote science-based, cross-jurisdictional collaboration to mitigate flooding and increase communities’ resilience, according to the state’s Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework, which was released Oct. 22.
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The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut's coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).
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