Reports from the Frontier II – Lessons Learned from Hurricanes: Preparation, Recovery and Resilience

When: October 30 – 31, 2018

Where: University of South Florida Saint Petersburg, Room: University Student Center (USC Ballroom)

Address: 200 6th Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

This 2-day workshop, hosted by the Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (iCAR), USF St. Petersburg, Gamma Theta Upsilon, and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council ONE BAY Resilient Communities Working Group, will engage participants in discussion about social and physical vulnerabilities to coastal hazards, and efforts to build regional resiliency. Through a series of presentations and followed by facilitated discussions and breakout sessions between experts from the national level, state level and  Tampa Bay regions, participants will explore potential regional solutions and approaches for addressing the resilience and adaptations of coastal cities to climate change.

In the wake of Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria, we received a glimpse of what can happen in Tampa Bay area when there are multiple storms coming our way. More than ever, in the context of increased high intensity extreme weather events, we must effectively address the concepts of preparedness, resilience and adaption. Key to success are effective messaging and resilience planning that are targeted to specific audiences, and address the unique needs of distinct communities. Studies have shown that the presences of strong social networks helps with preparedness, resilience and adaptation. Recent trends in research point to the need to pay attention to those impacts of climate-related events that are not economic in nature and cannot be quantified. Emotional resilience is particularly important in neighborhoods that have experienced repeated losses and weather-related events, or where the ability to cope and respond to storms, floods, heat, etc. is a persistent and ongoing problem.

Who Should Attend:

• Citizens, and Representatives from Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Civic organizations
• Businesses including but not limited to: Insurance industry, Real Estate, Consulting Firms, Energy providers
• NGOs (including those interested in environmental and social justice) and social service providers (religious organizations, affinity organizations)
• Students, Faculty & Researchers
• Elected Officials & Government Administrators
• Professionals involved in coastal resilience: Transportation and Urban Planners, Floodplain Managers, Emergency Managers, Public Works, Health Professionals, Natural Resource Managers, Engineers & Scientists.

Benefits:

• Network and share information with other individuals engaged in coastal resilience planning throughout Florida

• Shape research agendas and future climate adaptation efforts in the Tampa Bay region and beyond