Suffolk County, New York Climate Action Plan

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Suffolk County, New York (comprising the majority of Long Island) focuses primarily on climate change mitigation and energy efficiency measures within the county. A chapter is dedicated to the adaptation objectives, strategies, and projects aimed to address climate hazards in the region - such as coastal erosion, flood, drought, severe storm, and wildfire.

Chapter 5 focuses on Climate Change, Planning and Adaptation beginning with a review of the observed and projected effects of climate change in New York State as documented in the 2011 ClimAID adaptation report and the 2014 Update to the report. The CAP encourages community self-assessments using the Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Evaluation Tool to help identify and analyze risk and vulnerabilities as well as costs, benefits, and vulnerable population considerations of potential adaptation strategies. Specific adaptation strategies and projects included in the County’s 2014 Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan are presented in section 5.3, as related to: 

  • Community Planning and Capacity Building
  • Health and Social Services
  • Housing
  • Infrastructure
  • Natural and Cultural Resources

Adaptation measures for Infrastructure projects address transit, road, wastewater, communications, emergency power, stormwater, and more. Natural and Cultural Resources strategies include measures to reduce erosion, protect and restore wetlands, creeks, and beaches, protect and restore historic structures, as well as to reduce floodplain development. 

Some primary examples of recommended adaptation strategies from across all of these focal sectors presented include to:

  • Align adaptation plans through all levels of authority.
  • Provide adaptation education for natural disasters.
  • Where appropriate, support retrofitting, acquisition and/or relocation of structures located in flood-prone areas to protect structures from future damage, especially those known to be identified as ‘repetitive loss’ properties.
  • Develop and/or enhance the current stormwater management system to comply with federal and state regulations such that there will be a net reduction in the flood risk caused by stormwater impacts.
  • Integrate sea-level rise planning into other plans and documents. To be effective, local comprehensive plans, hazard mitigation plans, emergency management plans, and post-disaster recovery plans should all address the potential impacts of sea-level rise.
  • Encourage participation of Suffolk municipalities in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.
  • Develop policies and plans for periods of declared drought.
  • Track repetitive loss properties and develop potential strategies for transitioning properties to non-residential/public use.
  • Develop a pilot program to upgrade wastewater infrastructure in flood prone coastal areas.
  • Enhance existing beach nourishment plans and develop engineered beaches where appropriate.
  • Curtail floodplain development by transferring flood-prone properties... to the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department for open space purposes
  • Evaluate various restoration techniques in marshes and wetlands. Healthy wetlands will adapt and grow with sea level rise, providing a natural buffer for low-lying coastal areas.

 

Publication Date: March 2015

Related Organizations:

  • Suffolk County, New York

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Resource Types:

  • Plans (other)

States Affected:

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