Yesterday's climate no longer provides a reliable guide for planning the future. Communities must first identify how expected changes in weather will exacerbate on-going threats and introduce new vulnerabilities to build resilience. Fortunately, adapting will not require brand new efforts. Existing initiatives like green infrastructure, smart growth, floodplain management, ecological restoration, asset management, and urban greening will make our communities more resilient to weather-related threats. Communities can leverage these efforts by incorporating the best understanding of projected weather impacts into their plans, projects, and investment decisions.
Current Projects
Pennsylvania Coastal Resiliency
With funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), DVRPC is working with communities in the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone (DECZ) to help build their capacity to plan for and respond to future floods, including flooding from storm surge, stormwater, and high tides.
In 2019, DVRPC created a story map of current and future flooding scenarios in the PA DECZ. This was in response to prior engagement with DECZ municipalities to better understand their flooding issues. Deliverables included posters tailored to each municipality, hard-copy sea level rise maps, and this webpage.