Community Resilience Index improves preparedness of coastal municipalities in Mississippi and Alabama; transfers model to other parts of U.S. and beyond

April 28, 2022

As the Gulf Coast population increases, so does the risk of exposure to floods, hurricanes and other storm-related events. Photo credit: Vanda Lewis | North Carolina Sea Grant

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) and MASGC-trained volunteers facilitated the use of the Coastal Community Resilience Index (CRI) in 55 coastal communities across the Gulf region. The self-assessment tool allows communities to use existing knowledge, data and studies to examine resilience in terms of critical infrastructure, community plans and agreements, mitigation measures and other factors. MASGC trained 117 facilitators in the Gulf of Mexico, New England, Pacific Islands, Mexico and Bangladesh prior to 2014 and another 109 facilitators between 2014-2017. In addition, three sector indices were created (Tourism, Fisheries, Ports) and pilot tested to address resilience planning for important businesses that serve as economic drivers for coastal communities in Mississippi and Alabama. As a result, at least 15 local municipalities have taken actions to improve resilience to natural hazards and six states have used at least one of the indices as a model for work in their regions. MASGC also modified the CRI for use in the high school classroom, reaching 246 students.

Group of people removing ghost nets from a beach.

Alabama

Biden-Harris administration invests $27 million to support community-driven marine debris solutions through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $27 million in funding for projects to prevent and remove marine debris in coastal and Great Lakes communities as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This funding will support innovative research and foster local coalitions to address urgent marine debris issues by using NOAA Sea Grant’s partnered approach to bring science together with communities for solutions that work.

Shoring up the future, together: Collaborative efforts in coastal resilience across the Mid-Atlantic

Community members and city leaders gathered during a listening session to identify key climate readiness needs in Erie, Pennsylvania during June of 2023. (Photo by

Biden-Harris Administration invests $60 million to build a climate-ready workforce through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $60 million in funding to help train and place people in jobs that advance a climate-ready workforce for coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and Territories as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda under the Inflation Reduction Act. To date, awards like these from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda have created more than 270,000 jobs across the country.

The funding will support nine projects around the nation, with $50 million going directly to the projects and $10 million for technical assistance to support the grantees.