Research Planning and Reducing Vulnerabilities to Coastal Hazards

By Cammen, Leon M

In last year’s Review and Forecast article for Sea Technology magazine, we presented some of the activities being undertaken by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Sea Grant College Program in response to President George W. Bush’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan. In this year’s article. I will provide an update on progress and show how NOAA Sea Grant is well positioned to play a major role in responding to the needs of our nation’s coastal and ocean stakeholders.

Regional Research Planning

The Ocean Action Plan called for the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC’s) Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) to develop an ocean research priorities plan (ORPP) and implementation strategy by the end of 2006. Drafts of that plan have been widely circulated within the oceans, coastal and Great Lakes communities, and a consensus has emerged regarding near and long-term research priorities with the highest potential to benefit society.

In recognition of the necessarily broad nature of the GIU1P priorities, the NSTC Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources, as part of their 2006 work plan, has taken on the task of working with the JSOST to implement an interagency approach to establishing regional science planning efforts designed to support regional management activities. This will be accomplished by working through NOAA Sea Grant to develop a series of regional research plans, each viewing the national priorities from the ORPP through a regional lens. It is important to note that the ORPP recognizes the critical need to ensure that we are an occan-literale nation and includes a call to expand our formal and informal education efforts.

In fiscal year 2006, NOAA Sea Grant initialed this regional research planning effort in the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Maine, the southeastern region of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, the California Current (California. Oregon and Washington), Alaska and the Pacific Islands. These regions were chosen competitively and will complete their plans within two years. The goal is for the plans to be developed in as inclusive a manner as possible with a broad range of state and federal agencies, communities, universities, industries, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders involved. Since planning efforts cannot be successful until the plans are put into action. NOAA Sea Grant will provide additional funding for three more years to facilitate implementation of the plans. Supporting the research needs identified in the plans will require collaborative programs from multiple agencies, but the plans should provide region-specific guidance as to what areas of research would have the greatest impact.

Reducing Vulnerability to Hazards

As demonstrated so clearly in the summer of 2005, U.S. coastlines are at risk from coastal natural hazards-winds, waves and floods generated by hurricanes and other major storms, the physical impacts caused by earthquakes and tsunamis, and the threats to coastal communities due to short and long-term shoreline change. Risks to life and property from these hazards will surely increase as the population along our coasts continues to expand.

There is an urgent need for a dedicated national effort to reduce the economic, social and environmental costs of natural hazards. Research and outreach programs are needed to help states and localities create an aware and prepared citizenry capable of employing the most effective means to reduce these risks. NOAA Sea Grant, with its national network of universities, laboratories and outreach programs, has much to contribute to this national coastal natural hazards mitigation effort. Over the next few years. NOAA Sea Grant will develop new technologies for remediation and disaster prevention; evaluate and improve mitigation tools and techniques related to building construction and land use, including hazard- resistant retrofit alternatives for existing buildings and structures and the development of more effective building codes; develop, refine and demonstrate community risk and vulnerability assessment methods and standards, leading to improved methods for cost-benefit analysis for use by local officials; develop tools to assist port and harbor communities in assessing earthquake tsunami risk, vulnerability and mitigation options; identify and evaluate sustainable erosion control techniques and technologies that take into account environmental considerations; assist local governments and developers to incorporate water availability limitations, erosion rates and setbacks, and coastal building codes into development activities; develop and transfer methodologies and techniques for risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis to state und local officials seeking to develop more effective mitigation, evacuation and recovery plans; transfer information and technologies to coastal constituents on the predicted risks, expected impacts and effective methods for pre-event preparation and post-event recovery; and maintain a clearinghouse of university-generated information on coastal hazard events and mitigation strategies.

These efforts should result in enhanced preparedness and reduced losses of human life, property and environmental resources from coastal natural hazards.

By Dr. Leon M. Cammen

Director

National Sea Grant College Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Copyright Compass Publications, Inc. Jan 2007

(c) 2007 Sea Technology. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.