Coastal Resiliency Index: A Community Self-Assessment Tracie Sempier 1, Rod Emmer 2 LaDon Swann 1, Tina Sanchez 3, Steve Sempier 1, & Melissa Schneider 1 Tracie Sempier 1, Rod Emmer 2, LaDon Swann 1, Tina Sanchez 3, Steve Sempier 1, & Melissa Schneider 1 1 Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium 2 Louisiana Sea Grant 3 NOAA Gulf Coast Services Center 3 NOAA Gulf Coast Services Center

Outline Background Background Description and status of the index Description and status of the index Refining the index Refining the index Image: NOAA

Origins of the Index Gulf of Mexico Alliance Address regional issues that cross state boundaries Address regional issues that cross state boundaries Partnerships Partnerships State, federal, local governments State, federal, local governments Academia Academia Non-profit organizations Non-profit organizations Others Others Plan released in March 2006 Five priority issue areas Environmental Education Habitat ID Nutrients Restoration Water Quality

Origins of the Index Community Resilience Priority Area Community Resilience Priority Area Initiated in July 2007 Initiated in July 2007 State leadership State leadership Tina Shumate, MS DMR Tina Shumate, MS DMR Rod Emmer, Louisiana Sea Grant Rod Emmer, Louisiana Sea Grant Federal leadership Federal leadership Heidi Recksiek, NOAA Heidi Recksiek, NOAA John Bowie, EPA John Bowie, EPA Louisiana and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant began development of the index Louisiana and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant began development of the index GOMA workgroup endorsed index as a priority area GOMA workgroup endorsed index as a priority area

Purpose of the Index Provide a simple, inexpensive method for community leaders to perform a self- assessment of their communitys resilience to coastal hazards Provide a simple, inexpensive method for community leaders to perform a self- assessment of their communitys resilience to coastal hazards Identify weaknesses a community may want to address prior to the next hazard event Identify weaknesses a community may want to address prior to the next hazard event For use within a community, not for comparison between communities For use within a community, not for comparison between communities

Who will Complete the Index? Community completes the index for internal use Community completes the index for internal use Examples of groups that could complete index Examples of groups that could complete index Community leaders Community leaders Local planners Local planners Floodplain managers Floodplain managers Engineers Engineers Assistance available from Sea Grant Assistance available from Sea Grant Image: National Hurricane Center

Simple Format Use information that is readily available Use information that is readily available Six tables in the eight page document Six tables in the eight page document Mainly yes or no questions Mainly yes or no questions Complete in less than three hours Complete in less than three hours Image: Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Index Sections Critical Facilities Critical Facilities Infrastructure (e.g. water, sewage, electricity) Infrastructure (e.g. water, sewage, electricity) Facilities (e.g. city hall, police station) Facilities (e.g. city hall, police station) Transportation Issues Transportation Issues Evacuation route Evacuation route Ability to travel within community after event Ability to travel within community after event Community Plans and Agreements Community Plans and Agreements Mitigation plans Mitigation plans Certified planners and managers Certified planners and managers Image: James Edward Bates, Sun Herald

Index Sections (continued) Mitigation Measures Mitigation Measures Adopted building codes Adopted building codes Education Education Business Plans Business Plans Ability to rebound shortly after event Ability to rebound shortly after event Social Systems Social Systems Cultural, faith-based, business, and civic networks Cultural, faith-based, business, and civic networks Image: James Edward Bates, Sun Herald

Interpreting Results Easy interpretation of results; classify each section into one of three resilience levels Easy interpretation of results; classify each section into one of three resilience levels High High Medium Medium Low Low Communities encouraged to follow-up for sections classified as medium or low resilience Communities encouraged to follow-up for sections classified as medium or low resilience

Just the beginning… Does not replace a detailed study Does not replace a detailed study Index identifies areas that may need additional attention / resources Index identifies areas that may need additional attention / resources Services available to locate more information and materials Services available to locate more information and materials Reassessment on regular basis based on community needs and changes Reassessment on regular basis based on community needs and changes

Pilot Testing of the Index The draft index has been pilot tested in 4 coastal communities - Dauphin Island, AL -Gulf Shores, AL -Ocean Springs, MS -St. Tammany Parish, LA The draft index has been pilot tested in 4 coastal communities - Dauphin Island, AL -Gulf Shores, AL -Ocean Springs, MS -St. Tammany Parish, LA Future potential pilot sites -Bayou La Batre, AL Future potential pilot sites -Bayou La Batre, AL -Moss Point, MS -Orange Beach, AL -St. Bernard Parish, LA -Moss Point, MS -Orange Beach, AL -St. Bernard Parish, LA

Results from pilot testing Improved understanding of the perception of index category items by communities Improved understanding of the perception of index category items by communities Addition of items that communities expressed should be included Addition of items that communities expressed should be included Valuable input regarding ways to strengthen the index Valuable input regarding ways to strengthen the index Provide assistance for communities who participate Provide assistance for communities who participate

Gulf Shores, AL Provide communities with a reference section Provide communities with a reference section In house fueling facilities In house fueling facilities Pre-storm standing contracts (debris removal, damage assessment) Pre-storm standing contracts (debris removal, damage assessment) Security issues after a storm Security issues after a storm GIS capabilities for mapping critical facilities (utilities) GIS capabilities for mapping critical facilities (utilities)

Dauphin Island, AL Bridge-only way on or off the island, how to plan if bridge is out for 2 weeks Bridge-only way on or off the island, how to plan if bridge is out for 2 weeks Plan for staff turnover Plan for staff turnover Agree on a storm to use as benchmark Agree on a storm to use as benchmark No large retail stores No large retail stores Workforce after the storm Workforce after the storm Identified other people to bring to the table Identified other people to bring to the table

Ocean Springs, MS Consider tidal influence (storm comes in on high vs. low tide) Consider tidal influence (storm comes in on high vs. low tide) Streamline process for coordinating efforts between federal, state, and local emergency management Streamline process for coordinating efforts between federal, state, and local emergency management Answers differ depending upon storm intensity Answers differ depending upon storm intensity Consider impacts from rainfall and wind Consider impacts from rainfall and wind

St. Tammany Parish, LA No centralized sewage -parish is half rural and half urban -break down types of systems No centralized sewage -parish is half rural and half urban -break down types of systems Devastated from wind Devastated from wind Have communities select storms, then fill out index; each is unique Have communities select storms, then fill out index; each is unique Plans for debris removal, plans for repairing buffer areas Plans for debris removal, plans for repairing buffer areas Leave room for descriptions Leave room for descriptions

Next Steps? Complete pilot testing Complete pilot testing Make revisions to the index that reflect the suggestions from pilot communities Make revisions to the index that reflect the suggestions from pilot communities Disseminate the index across the Gulf and offer assistance to communities in completing the index Disseminate the index across the Gulf and offer assistance to communities in completing the index Pursue CRS credit opportunities for communities that complete the index Pursue CRS credit opportunities for communities that complete the index

Questions?