Increase Resilience to Extreme Weather Events (ADP Action 5)

Begin measures to increase the state's resilience to extreme weather events. Because climate change forecasts include more frequent drought punctuated by more intense precipitation events and rising sea level, our built environment may be at increased risk of inland and coastal flooding. More succinctly, today's weather-related problems will be made worse by a changing climate. Future development could put more people and property at risk and could exacerbate the problem if sited in the wrong locations. Consequently, adaptation policies should be established that steer future development away from the most vulnerable flood-prone areas, 2) render the existing built environment more resilient to weather-related impacts, and 3) move existing development out of harm's way where feasible. Mechanisms to accomplish these outcomes focus on municipal ordinances, building codes, land use practices, infrastructure planning, and incentives. Costs of inaction are potential loss of life, property, and economic activity – especially in flood-prone inland and coastal areas.