Sea Level Rise & Social Vulnerability Workshop #1: Gulfport, MS
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In August, 2015, Climate Central, NAACP, and NOAA co-led a workshop in Gulfport, Mississippi for NAACP environmental officers from across the Gulf state region. The training occurred as part of NAACP's Hurricane Katrina 10th anniversary commemoration summit, “Sunshine After the Storm.” Climate Central and NOAA each demonstrated their online web tools (Climate Central's Risk Finder and NOAA's Sea Level Rise Viewer) and provided screening-level analysis of sea level rise and coastal flood risk. In addition to navigating the web tools themselves, attendees participated in group discussions and feedback sessions. Building on this workshop, NAACP incorporated Surging Seas analysis and maps into their state-level reports that form the basis for organizational priority setting and action plans. “Given the pre-existing vulnerabilities in many of the communities we serve, the partnership with Climate Central is critical in preparing communities for the challenges facing them as it relates to sea level rise. Together, we are enabling communities to plan for various impact scenarios and design mitigation strategies that work for their contexts.” - Jacqui Patterson, Director, Environmental and Climate Justice Program, NAACP To learn more, view NAACP's blog entry about this sea level rise workshop, and NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program. |
Overview:
Climate Central's Program on Sea Level Rise works jointly with the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Program and local partners to conduct workshops on sea level rise, coastal flood risk, and social vulnerability.
These workshops provide NAACP environmental leaders, NAACP branch presidents, and other stakeholders with information, tools, and science regarding the risks posed by rising seas and coastal flooding. Additionally, each workshop connects attendees with resources and experts available to them in their states or communities as they work to prepare for sea level rise and coastal flood risk.
Presenters have included officials from NOAA, Sea Grant, FEMA, NAACP, and Climate Central as well as leading scientists, state/county/municipal planners, and resilience officers. Attendees participate in interactive demonstrations of sea level rise and coastal flood web tools by Climate Central, NOAA, and others. Many workshops have included planning sessions in which attendees build out their own local level action plans.
Funding to support Climate Central's workshop efforts is provided by the Kresge Foundation and other foundations.
View completed workshops, case studies, events | Contact us at sealevel@climatecentral.org