Building Resilient States: A Framework for Agencies
This Framework from Smart Growth America provides governors and their administrations advice on how to undertake some initial steps towards integrating resiliency into state disaster preparedness planning, as well as examples of successful implementation. Specifically, this document is intended to introduce and integrate land use and transportation issues into states’ resilience planning.
The report explains how significant advances can be made in state resiliency by taking step-wise action in the following seven key areas:
1. Put someone in charge
2. Seek the advice and expertise of partners outside state government
3. Integrate future risks into a state Hazard Mitigation Plan and land use policy
4. Ensure that state investments do not increase vulnerability
5. Develop strategies to address assets that are already in high-risk areas
6. Help communities become more resilient
7. Develop a process for monitoring, measuring, and reporting on progress
The seven steps are described in detail along with specific actions within each. For example, within step 5, to “Develop strategies to address assets already in high-risk areas,” the report outlines related actions including to:
5.1. Assess resilience options for existing at-risk assets
5.2. Develop strategies for assets that should be protected
5.3. Develop strategies for assets that are not practical to protect
5.4. Get multiple benefits from resilience projects
The recommendations in this Framework were informed by the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has worked conducting resilience policy workshops with various states. It was also informed by the 2014 State Resilience and Economic Growth Summit, which brought together 126 representatives from 26 states to discuss ways to improve resilience, and featured national expert panels on vulnerable populations, resilience as economic development, state leadership, and building state-local partnerships as well as presentations by representatives from EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on federal resilience resources and initiatives.
Smart Growth America is a national expert on land use, development, and transportation as they relate to resilience and economic growth. Visit smartgrowthamerica.org/resilience to learn more about Smart Growth America’s State Resilience Program.
Publication Date: October 2015
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- Planning guides
