Coastal Resiliency Index: Coastal Resiliency Index: A Community Self-AssessmentA Community Self-Assessment

Tracie SempierTracie Sempier11, Rod Emmer, Rod Emmer22, LaDon SwannLaDon Swann11, , Tina SanchezTina Sanchez33, Steve Sempier, Steve Sempier11, & Melissa Schneider, & Melissa Schneider11

11Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant ConsortiumMississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium22Louisiana Sea GrantLouisiana Sea Grant

33 NOAA Gulf Coast Services Center NOAA Gulf Coast Services Center

OutlineOutline

• BackgroundBackground• Description and Description and

status of the indexstatus of the index• Refining the indexRefining the index

Image: NOAA

Origins of the IndexOrigins of the IndexGulf of Mexico AllianceGulf of Mexico Alliance

• Address regional Address regional issues that cross issues that cross state boundariesstate boundaries

• Partnerships Partnerships • State, federal, State, federal,

local governmentslocal governments• AcademiaAcademia• Non-profit Non-profit

organizationsorganizations• OthersOthers

• Plan released in Plan released in March 2006March 2006

• Five priority issue Five priority issue areasareas

• Environmental Environmental EducationEducation

• Habitat IDHabitat ID• NutrientsNutrients• RestorationRestoration• Water QualityWater Quality

Origins of the IndexOrigins of the Index• Community Resilience Priority AreaCommunity Resilience Priority Area

• Initiated in July 2007Initiated in July 2007• State leadershipState leadership

• Tina Shumate, MS DMRTina Shumate, MS DMR• Rod Emmer, Louisiana Sea GrantRod Emmer, Louisiana Sea Grant

• Federal leadershipFederal leadership• Heidi Recksiek, NOAAHeidi Recksiek, NOAA• John Bowie, EPAJohn Bowie, EPA

• Louisiana and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Louisiana and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant began development of the indexGrant began development of the index

• GOMA workgroup endorsed index GOMA workgroup endorsed index as a priority areaas a priority area

Purpose of the IndexPurpose of the Index

• Provide a simple, inexpensive method for Provide a simple, inexpensive method for community leaders to perform a self-community leaders to perform a self-assessment of their community’s resilience assessment of their community’s resilience to coastal hazardsto coastal hazards

• Identify weaknesses a community may want Identify weaknesses a community may want to address prior to the next hazard eventto address prior to the next hazard event

• For use within a community, not for For use within a community, not for comparison between communitiescomparison between communities

Who will Complete the Index?Who will Complete the Index?

• Community completes Community completes the index for internal the index for internal useuse

• Examples of groups Examples of groups that could complete that could complete indexindex

• Community leadersCommunity leaders• Local plannersLocal planners• Floodplain managersFloodplain managers• EngineersEngineers

• Assistance available Assistance available from Sea Grantfrom Sea Grant

Image: National Hurricane Center

Simple FormatSimple Format• Use information that Use information that

is readily availableis readily available

• Six tables in the Six tables in the eight page eight page documentdocument

• Mainly yes or no Mainly yes or no questionsquestions

• Complete in less Complete in less than three hoursthan three hours

Image: Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Index SectionsIndex Sections• Critical FacilitiesCritical Facilities

• Infrastructure (e.g. water, Infrastructure (e.g. water, sewage, electricity)sewage, electricity)

• Facilities (e.g. city hall,Facilities (e.g. city hall,police station)police station)

• Transportation IssuesTransportation Issues• Evacuation routeEvacuation route• Ability to travel within Ability to travel within

community after eventcommunity after event

• Community Plans and Community Plans and AgreementsAgreements• Mitigation plansMitigation plans• Certified planners and Certified planners and

managersmanagers Image: James Edward Bates, Sun Herald

Index Sections (continued)Index Sections (continued)• Mitigation MeasuresMitigation Measures

• Adopted building codesAdopted building codes• EducationEducation

• Business PlansBusiness Plans• Ability to rebound Ability to rebound

shortly after eventshortly after event

• Social SystemsSocial Systems• Cultural, faith-based, Cultural, faith-based,

business, and business, and civic networkscivic networks

Image: James Edward Bates, Sun Herald

Interpreting ResultsInterpreting Results

• Easy interpretation of results; classify Easy interpretation of results; classify each section into one of three each section into one of three resilience levels resilience levels • High High • MediumMedium• LowLow

• Communities encouraged to follow-up Communities encouraged to follow-up for sections classified as “medium” or for sections classified as “medium” or “low” resilience“low” resilience

Just the beginning…Just the beginning…

• Does not replace a detailed studyDoes not replace a detailed study

• Index identifies areas that may need Index identifies areas that may need additional attention / resourcesadditional attention / resources

• Services available to locate more Services available to locate more information and materialsinformation and materials

• Reassessment on regular basis based Reassessment on regular basis based on community needs and changeson community needs and changes

Pilot Testing of the IndexPilot Testing of the Index

• The draft index has been pilot tested in 4 The draft index has been pilot tested in 4 coastal communitiescoastal communities--Dauphin Island, ALDauphin Island, AL-Gulf Shores, AL-Gulf Shores, AL-Ocean Springs, MS-Ocean Springs, MS-St. Tammany Parish, LA-St. Tammany Parish, LA

• Future potential pilot sites Future potential pilot sites -Bayou La Batre, AL-Bayou La Batre, AL

• -Moss Point, MS-Moss Point, MS-Orange Beach, AL-Orange Beach, AL-St. Bernard Parish, LA-St. Bernard Parish, LA

Results from pilot testingResults from pilot testing

• Improved understanding of the perception of Improved understanding of the perception of index category items by communitiesindex category items by communities

• Addition of items that communities Addition of items that communities expressed should be includedexpressed should be included

• Valuable input regarding ways to strengthen Valuable input regarding ways to strengthen the index the index

• Provide assistance for communities who Provide assistance for communities who participateparticipate

Gulf Shores, ALGulf Shores, AL

• Provide communities with a reference Provide communities with a reference sectionsection

• In house fueling facilitiesIn house fueling facilities• Pre-storm standing contracts (debris Pre-storm standing contracts (debris

removal, damage assessment)removal, damage assessment)• Security issues after a stormSecurity issues after a storm• GIS capabilities for mapping critical GIS capabilities for mapping critical

facilities (utilities)facilities (utilities)

Dauphin Island, ALDauphin Island, AL

• Bridge-only way on or off the island, Bridge-only way on or off the island, how to plan if bridge is out for 2 weekshow to plan if bridge is out for 2 weeks

• Plan for staff turnoverPlan for staff turnover• Agree on a storm to use as benchmarkAgree on a storm to use as benchmark• No large retail storesNo large retail stores• Workforce after the stormWorkforce after the storm• Identified other people to bring to the Identified other people to bring to the

tabletable

Ocean Springs, MSOcean Springs, MS

• Consider tidal influence (storm comes Consider tidal influence (storm comes in on high vs. low tide)in on high vs. low tide)

• Streamline process for coordinating Streamline process for coordinating efforts between federal, state, and local efforts between federal, state, and local emergency managementemergency management

• Answers differ depending upon storm Answers differ depending upon storm intensityintensity

• Consider impacts from rainfall and Consider impacts from rainfall and windwind

St. Tammany Parish, LASt. Tammany Parish, LA• No centralized sewageNo centralized sewage

-parish is half rural and half urban-parish is half rural and half urban-break down types of systems-break down types of systems

• Devastated from windDevastated from wind• Have communities select storms, then Have communities select storms, then

fill out index; each is uniquefill out index; each is unique• Plans for debris removal, plans for Plans for debris removal, plans for

repairing buffer areasrepairing buffer areas• Leave room for descriptionsLeave room for descriptions

Next Steps?Next Steps?

• Complete pilot testingComplete pilot testing

• Make revisions to the index that reflect the Make revisions to the index that reflect the suggestions from pilot communitiessuggestions from pilot communities

• Disseminate the index across the Gulf and Disseminate the index across the Gulf and offer assistance to communities in offer assistance to communities in completing the indexcompleting the index

• Pursue CRS credit opportunities for Pursue CRS credit opportunities for communities that complete the indexcommunities that complete the index

Questions?Questions?