MOVING FROM VULNERABILITY MAPPING TO RESILIENCE PLANNING LESSONS FROM CHARLESTON SC

Charleston, South Carolina is already experiencing the impact of climate change on a regular basis. Tidal, storm surge and rainfall event-based flooding make it one of America’s most vulnerable coastal cities. With the low elevation, a vast coastline, and estuary shorelines, flooding is the most important hazard to the residents of the region. With the majority of residents living within 10 feet of mean sea level and with gravity-based storm water system that becomes impaired during high tide conditions, rising water levels have already begun to impact the region, influencing infrastructure, property, and dollars. The increasing frequency of flooding and damage from these events has highlighted the need for better mapping and communication of the area’s most susceptible climate induced hazards. The Lowcountry Hazards Center (LCHC) has been working in together with the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (SC-SGC) to communicate flood risk and opportunities for resilience. The development of science based solutions begins with stakeholder engagement and is driven throughout by the needs and goals of each locality

Using information developed during the Charleston Dutch Dialogs Analysis for the city of Charleston map products have been developed to better understand the impacts of climate induced flooding on infrastructure, property and businesses. Additionally, combining the information with empirically-tested methodologies derived from NOAA and the USDA The LCHC has created tidal and precipitation-based flood maps for communities across the Lowcountry region. Taking nationally-vetted methodologies and translating them to an landscapes that stakeholders relate most closely to streets and buildings in their community The maps have been used by communities incorporating them into their personal adaptation practices helping to plan for both storm hurricane and future climate induced sea level rise. The co-production of knowledge between geosocientists and stakeholders allows projects and products to move from reactive-based to proactive data driven decision products for response and mitigation.