CEAR Hub Project Lead Dr. Russ Clark and Resilience Planning Director Kait Morano presented a session titled "Innovative Tools for Building Community Resilience" at the Chatham County Hurricane Conference on April 16, 2024. Organized annually by the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), the Hurricane Conference brings together professionals working in emergency management, government operations, public health, and related fields to learn about the importance of preparedness and gear up for hurricane season. This year’s event was CEMA’s largest ever, with more than 500 people from across the country in attendance!
In their presentation, Clark and Morano highlighted the ongoing development of CEAR Hub’s innovative tools that help foster data-driven decision-making and community engagement. The pair showcased the Inundation Portal, a custom web application to support emergency planning and response during flood events, as well as Map Spot, a creative and accessible map-making tool for community engagement, asset mapping, and education. These tools help communicate information about short- and long-term risk while also leveraging local expertise, empowering communities in their efforts to build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
The presentation also emphasized the importance of collaboration in building resilience, where communities play an active role in shaping their own adaptation strategies. By combining scientific data and cutting-edge technology with local expertise, the CEAR Hub aims to create more inclusive and tailored resilience strategies that address the unique climate-related challenges faced by each community.