Request for Information for the U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), on behalf of the interagency Ocean Policy Committee (OPC), request input from all interested parties to inform the development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) that will help guide and coordinate actions by the Federal government and civil society to address ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. Learn more and submit comments here.
New Data from NOAA Provides Insight into How Flooding Affects Employment
A new NOAA dataset provides the number of businesses and employees, split out by industry, in inundation footprints modelled for hurricanes, tsunamis, and other flood hazards via the FEMA special flood hazard areas (sea level rise footprints coming soon). Read more. NOAA is interested in hearing from newsletter readers who have used the data or are interested in using the data to inform their flood risk scenarios or in communicating with partners or members of the public. Please reach out to Polina Dineva for assistance or to share usage details.
Gulfwide Oyster Map Now In GOMOD
Oyster data for each of the five Gulf states are now available in a single distribution map on the Gulf of Mexico Open Data Platform (GOMOD). These data represent a comprehensive collection of publicly available data from state agencies across the region; data will be further refined in the coming months and more data will be added as it becomes available. Learn more here.
FEMA Celebrates National Community Planning Month
During October, FEMA celebrates National Community Planning Month. Planning helps communities prevent hazard events from becoming disasters. It identifies long-term, equitable solutions that reduce risk from natural hazards. Explore FEMA resources to learn how how mitigation planning can build resilient communities here.
FEMA Implements an Alternative Cost-Effectiveness Method to Increase Program Accessibility for BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance
For the fiscal year 2022 BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance application cycle, the agency is introducing an alternative cost-effectiveness method that will modify the threshold for mitigation projects to be considered cost-effective under limited conditions. By modifying the threshold for Benefit-Cost Analysis calculations, FEMA expects more projects will benefit disadvantaged communities to develop projects that address climate change effects. Learn more here.
FEMA and EDA Release New Resource to Align Community Plans and Build Resilience
FEMA and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) released a new guide to help align hazard mitigation plans with Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). A CEDS must include economic resilience in its strategy; a hazard mitigation plan identifies and plans for natural hazard risks to key sectors, including the economy. Aligning these means community partners can coordinate better, share priorities and actions that reduce risk, and better use funding. Read the guide here.
NOAA Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) Program FY2023 Funding Competition: Island Resilience
The NOAA Climate Program OfficeAdaptation Sciences (AdSci) Program is now accepting proposals for research projects beginning in Fiscal Year 2023. Through the FY2023 competition, NOAA’s AdSci Program is soliciting proposals for interdisciplinary and participatory research activities that address island-identified resilience needs in the Caribbean and Pacific; with an emphasis on projects that result in: (1) contextually relevant and usable information about climate impacts, vulnerabilities and solutions; (2) the evaluation, identification and strengthening of the adaptive capacities of institutions, communities, sectors and islands; (3) and/or the integration of climate information in adaptation planning, action and long-term resilience strategies. Letter of Intent (LOI) are due October 31, 2022. Full Applications are due by January 31, 2023. Learn more here.
NOAA Holding Public Meetings on Louisiana NERR
NOAA has announced two public meetings will be held for the purpose of providing information and receiving comments on the preliminary recommendation by the State of Louisiana that portions of the Atchafalaya River area be proposed to NOAA for designation as a National Estuarine Research Reserve. The in-person public meeting will be held on November 2, 2022, in the Morgan City Auditorium (728 Myrtle Street, Morgan City, Louisiana 70380). The virtual public meeting will be held on November 3, 2022 here. More information is available here.
NOAA releases Restoration Blueprint for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released a proposed rule and a revised draft management plan for the Restoration Blueprint—a significant update to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s management plan, boundary, regulations, and marine zones. NOAA will accept public comment on the Restoration Blueprint through October 26, 2022. There will also be multiple advisory council and public information meetings will provide opportunities for engagement and public comment. Learn more here.
ASFPM Call for Abstracts
The call for abstracts for the 2023 ASFPM Annual National Conference is now open. The 2023 Call for Abstracts seeks a broad range of professionals to submit for 30-minute concurrent sessions and/or 2-4 hour workshops that address issues, problems, and solutions associated with managing and communicating flood risk, making communities more resilient, and protecting floodplains and fragile natural resources. Submissions are due October 31, 2022. Learn more and submit your abstract here.
FEMA Announces FY22 BRIC and FMA Notice of Funding Opportunities.
FEMA announced the FY22 Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs. The funding level for BRIC has increased to $2.3 billion for FY22, with FMA funding increasing to $800 million. BRIC’s non-financial Direct Technical Assistance program will also increase to at least 40 communities (from 20) for the FY22 cycle. The application period closes on January 27, 2023. Learn more here.
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