Plan

Washington Coast Resilience Action Demonstration Project

Summary

The Resilience Action Demonstration Project (RAD) was a 2019-2021 NOAA-funded partnership between the Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington Sea Grant that piloted an inter-agency hazards resilience assistance team. This report describes the team’s outreach, research, and collaboration with local, state, federal, and Tribal partners to advance locally driven hazards resilience projects and plans while developing strategies to improve coastal hazards resilience across Washington’s Pacific Coast. The report recommends specific state-led actions to improve coastal hazards resilience, including a strategy for establishing a permanent Coastal Hazards Organizational Resilience Team, or COHORT.

Year
2024

Details

Hazards Addressed
Flooding – Coastal
Landslides
Assets
Agriculture and Food Supply
Aquatic and Marine Resources
Multiple or All Assets
Natural Areas and Wildlife
People
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Lessons Learned

In many coastal communities, the limited staff capacity that exists is often directed towards addressing immediate hazard mitigation needs. The potential projects identified in the inventory reflect many of these needs. However, the capacity and momentum behind these projects can be leveraged and supported by various state agencies and other coordinated efforts to address immediate needs, while also incorporating project elements that contribute toward the improvement of local and system-wide resilience.

Options Used

Encourage development in urban areas where public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner. All development investment should be located outside of current and future flood Encourage the involvement of residents in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts. Advance the understanding by citizens of the implications Ensure that any existing or newly permitted public facilities and services are designed to consider current and future flood scenarios when calculating level of service and are required to avoid present

Steps to Resilience

Get Started
Understand Exposure
Assess Vulnerability & Risk
Investigate Options
Prioritize & Plan
Take Action

Plans

Washington Coast Resilience Action Demonstration Project

Organizations to Contact

Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network (CHRN)
Washington Sea Grant
Washington Coastal Zone Management Program

Relevant Options

Relocate key food infrastructure, like distribution centers, in the floodplain to a safer location outside of the floodplain. Encourage farmers to elevate the sides of hoop houses in the floodway to allow for the movement of floodwater. Ensure food infrastructure located near vulnerable populations is easily accessible during severe weather.
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