DCM Coastal Resilience Pilot Program

Background

From August 2016 to August 2018, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM) conducted a pilot program in five communities to better understand local experiences with coastal hazards and to identify areas where state and local staff can focus resources to mitigate future impacts from flooding, winds, and other damaging events. View the Story Map which provides an overview of the project, outlines the process and provides insight into each community's perspective on resilience.

To inform the pilot program, the DCM conducted a coast-wide needs assessment survey in February 2017. Through the survey, flooding and stormwater management were identified as the most common issue faced by local governments. Local government staff reported a strong need for increased vulnerability assessments for resilience planning and increased project funding and grant-writing assistance. The Resilience Evaluation and Needs Assessment (RENA) project is intended to begin the process of conducting vulnerability assessments and resilience planning. It also serves as the basis for a larger effort to create an approach that other coastal communities can use to adapt and build resilience to natural hazards.

Participating communities included the towns of Oriental, Edenton, Duck, Pine Knoll Shores, and Hatteras Village.

Steps Taken

From 2017 to 2018, DCM worked with local government staff to identify social and physical vulnerabilities to coastal hazards, as well as to uncover community-specific needs in building resilience.

The RENA process consisted of three main steps:

  • asset mapping,
  • community workshops and interviews, and
  • hotspot identification for future project implementation.

Results

Some of the key benefits of the project included: a localized understanding of the impact of hazards on important community assets; increased engagement from the community in the resilience planning process; and increased data to include in grant applications to implement projects identified through this process.

  • Summary Report of RENA Pilot Project: found below, the report details the entire project and provides materials and instructions for other communities to be able to replicate the RENA process.
  • Pilot Individual Community Reports: found below for each of the five RENA pilot communities, these describe the survey results, local asset maps, and specific recommendations for moving forward.
    • Five Community Asset Maps Available: Thanks to the partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), five community asset maps are currently hosted on TNC's Coastal Resilience Mapping Tool under the "Regional Planning" section.

For more information about the pilot program or for questions about receiving similar technical assistance, please contact DCM's Policy & Planning Section Chief Tancred Miller at tancred.miller@ncdenr.gov.

Final Reports

Tab/Accordion Items

The summary report outlines the overall RENA process used in each of the five case study communities. Other local governments and communities can replicate the process using the summary report. Additionally, the appendix of the report contains survey, mapping, and workshop documents that can be replicated in other coastal and non-coastal communities to produce asset maps. 

Duck's final RENA report can be used for resilience planning purposes as well as for future grant applications for projects related to resilience-building.

Duck is part of Dare County’s robust multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. Through mapping and community planning, this project adds research to assist Duck in meeting several of its Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (HMP) goals. In addition, the RENA project can assist Duck in realizing their 2027 vision through adapting Duck Village to future flood impacts; protecting vibrant, thriving businesses in town; and creating responsive town staff and leaders that are prepared for future climate scenarios.

Edenton's final RENA report can be used for resilience planning purposes as well as for future grant applications for projects related to resilience-building.

Chowan County has a robust regional hazard mitigation plan (HMP), which includes the town of Edenton. This project met several high priority needs highlighted in the HMP, including EDN2, EDN4, EDN11, EDN12, EDN14, EDN16, EDN17, EDN27, and EDN29. Edenton’s RENA results reinforced ideas in the HMP and highlighted additional concerns and priorities voiced by the community.

Hatteras Village's final RENA report can be used for resilience planning purposes as well as for future grant applications for projects related to resilience-building.

North Carolina's Outer Banks communities continue to be resilient in the face of changing climate conditions. For years, Hatteras Village has focused on flood mitigation and adaptation in daily life. After Hurricane Matthew (2016), Hatteras Village also participated in creating Dare County's Rebuild NC plan to highlight areas most prone to flooding and other impacts from coastal hazards.

Oriental's final RENA report can be used for resilience planning purposes as well as for future grant applications for projects related to resilience-building.

Pamlico County has a robust regional hazard mitigation plan (HMP) which includes the town of Oriental. This project meets several high priority needs highlighted in the HMP, including Action # 1: Continue to address drainage issues as the need arises; Action #11: Research stormwater management and recommend strategies; and Action #13: Determine the number of repetitive loss properties within the town’s jurisdiction and develop strategies to mitigate future risk. Oriental’s RENA results reinforce ideas the ideas in the HMP and highlight additional concerns and priorities voiced by the community.

 

 

Pine Knoll Shores' final RENA report can be used for resilience planning purposes as well as for future grant applications for projects related to resilience-building.

Pine Knoll Shores has a robust strategic plan which highlights the need for resilience planning in the town. This project meets several objectives in four areas of Pine Knoll Shores Strategic Plan. This guide draws from the Pamlico Sound Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for general information on Pine Knoll Shores such as hazards, demographics, capabilities, and risk.