August 11, 2020
Watch the recording here.
From localized flood events to extreme storms, hurricanes, and rising sea levels, floodwaters are rising around the nation. Water knows no jurisdictional boundaries, but flooding impacts often do. Historical injustices and a lack of infrastructure investment have left low-income communities and communities of color in low-lying areas that flood more frequently. The compounding risks posed by climate change demand coordinated and proactive thinking, policies, and investments.
In 2019, the US Water Alliance convened stakeholders from nine US cities building cross-sector momentum to address these challenges. This culminated in our recent report, Water Rising: Equitable Approaches to Urban Flooding. The report details five priority actions water professionals and communities can take to co-create flooding solutions and ensure all residents are prepared for a changing climate.
This webinar will discuss urban flooding challenges and feature the five priority actions from the report. Attendees will also hear lessons learned from ongoing efforts to implement equitable flood resilience in Houston, TX and Raleigh, NC— including innovative methods for shared decision-making, community oversight, no-new development regulations, and the implementation of an equity provision for infrastructure investments.
Moderator:
Katy Lackey, Senior Program Manager, US Water Alliance
Speakers:
Iris Gonzalez, Coalition Director, Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience
Jamila Johnson, Infrastructure Policy Manager, Houston Public Works
Wayne Miles, Stormwater Program Manager, Engineering Services Department, City of Raleigh
Rev. Jemonde Taylor, Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church and City of Raleigh Stormwater Management Advisory Commission
