2023 Regional Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan
Southeastern Connecticut is a coastal region along Long Island Sound, contains several large rivers, and experiences four distinct seasons that each presents unique weather-related challenges. These challenges are compounded by new weather patterns and conditions resulting from climate change. Average temperature increases, more intense rainfall patterns, and sea level rise all have primary and secondary impacts that affect health outcomes and risks to personal safety and property.
To support public safety and protect community assets, SECOG and its member municipalities conduct planning and studies to improve resilience to natural hazards. Under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, communities must have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to qualify for certain federal grants. SECOG addresses this through a Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), which identifies risks and outlines strategies to reduce loss of life and property damage.
In the latest update, SECOG incorporated CIRCA’s Resilient CT 2.0 program to address climate change impacts. The 2023 Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (HM-CAP) details actions to reduce damage from disasters like floods, storms, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat.
SECOG’s current efforts focus on supporting the implementation of HM-CAP action items. The dashboard below shows the 373 action items recorded in the HM-CAP for bolstering local resilience, and their last known status. For more information, contact Helen Zincavage [email protected].
Documents
Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (2023)
Local Annexes
Bozrah Annex Colchester Annex East Lyme Annex
Franklin Annex Griswold & Jewett City Annex Groton City Annex
Groton Town Annex Lebanon Annex Ledyard Annex
Lisbon Annex Montville Annex New London Annex
North Stonington Annex Norwich Annex Preston Annex
Previous Plans
Critical Facilities Assessment
A Critical Facilities Assessment was completed in 2017, which studied site-specific vulnerabilities of sixteen emergency services facilities located in storm surge or flood zones. This project was recommended in the 2012 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Site-specific assessments examined flood, wind, and snow-load risks and provided recommendations for improvements, with the goal of reducing the risk of service interruptions.
Documents
Critical Facilities Assessment (Sponsored by CIRCA) (2017)
Community Rating System Initiative/Model
In early 2019, SECOG and a consultant team completed an initiative providing assistance to member municipalities enrolled in, or interested in joining, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary program in which NFIP communities are awarded points for documenting and undertaking activities that improve flood resilience. Based on CRS standing, NFIP communities are sorted into classes, in which premium discounts of 5-45% are awarded to flood insurance policy holders. SECOG was successful in improving the CRS standing of three existing CRS communities, and four additional municipalities are scheduled to join.
In addition to assisting interested municipalities, the CRS initiative/model also produced a regional Guidebook and Toolkit to assist interested municipalities in joining in the future.
Documents
Community Rating System Narrative Guidebook for SECOG Municipalities
Regional Resilience Guidebook
The Nature Conservancy, along with SECOG and the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer), led an effort with the Cities of Groton, New London, and Norwich, the Towns of East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Montville, Salem, Stonington, and Waterford, and other regional stakeholders, to form a shared vision for natural hazard resilience. In particular, the Regional Resilience Guidebook examined six topic areas: Water, Food, Economy, Ecosystems, Energy, and Transportation.
Documents
Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resilience Guidebook (The Nature Conservancy) (2017)