Upper Coastal Plain Regional Resilience Portfolio
Upper Coastal Plain
The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments region includes Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties.
The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments worked with NCORR’s RISE Program to develop a portfolio of priority projects that strengthen regional resilience. This multi-phase effort included a forward-looking vulnerability assessment, the identification of five to 10 high-priority projects and a list of the actions needed to implement each proposed project. A diverse stakeholder partnership guided the project to ensure that the scope of work reflected local priorities. The Upper Coastal Plain COG offered project guidance, the NC Rural Center hired a local leader to provide facilitation support and Kleinfelder Inc. provided technical assistance.
Stay Informed
The Duke Energy Foundation awarded Accelerator Grant Program funding to support the following resilience project identified in the Upper Coastal Plain region's Resilience Project Portfolio:
First Street Extension Flood Resiliency Project
- Applicant: Nash County, NC
- Amount: $65,000
- Project Summary: Nash County will coordinate a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) and a Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H) study to determine the feasibility and confirm the need for addressing flooding issues that block access to the emergency communications tower located at 915 First Street Extension in Nashville and block access to a residential area called Indian Trail. The BCA and H&H would also be used to prepare for future grant applications such as BRIC or the Golden LEAF Flood Mitigation program.
Review the Climate Resilience Portfolio
The Climate Resilience Projects Portfolio for the Upper Coastal Plain Region identifies priority projects and strategies that reduce the risks associated with extreme weather events and enhance regional resilience. The portfolio aims to produce shovel-ready actions with detailed implementation steps, including estimated costs, potential implementing partners, likely project completion challenges and more.
Review the Vulnerability Assessment
The Climate Change and Natural Hazards Vulnerability Assessment for the Upper Coastal Plain Region is a report describing past problems and future risks associated with extreme weather events such as hurricanes, flooding, extreme temperatures, droughts and wildfires. The report outlines the impacts of these climate hazards on housing, the environment and the economy.
Public Workshop #2: Upper Coastal Plain Regional Resilience Portfolio Project
Sept. 22, 2022: 3–4:30 p.m. and 6–7:30 p.m.
Workshop attendees had a chance to learn more about the Upper Coastal Plain Regional Resilience Portfolio Project and give feedback on potential regional projects and strategies to build future community resilience in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties. Five to 10 prioritized strategies or projects will be included in the final portfolio, which will identify specific ways to help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters and climate hazards.
Public Workshop #1: Understanding Vulnerability from the Local Perspective
April 14, 2022: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:30–7 p.m.
During this workshop, community members and stakeholders learned about the Upper Coastal Plain Regional Resilience Portfolio Project and participated in group discussions about community challenges related to climate impacts and resilience.
If you would like to receive occasional news about the project, please subscribe to email updates.
To stay on top of the project, provide feedback on past meeting topics and comment on the draft Vulnerability Assessment, visit the RISE Upper Coastal Plain StoryMap. This online engagement tool will be updated regularly with additional information.
For more information about the state's RISE initiative in the Upper Coastal Plain COG region, contact NCORR Resilience Policy Advisor Andrea Webster.
Project Overview
Step 1. Vulnerability Assessment
The first phase of the project was the development of a vulnerability assessment. This analysis brought together science and local knowledge to paint a picture of hazards in the region and how they may change in the future.
Step 2. Propose and Prioritize Projects
The second phase of the project was the development of a portfolio of several projects that have regional benefits for resilience. Proposed projects could include construction projects, nature-based solutions, outreach and capacity-building activities, or planning and policy developments. The regional benefit could come in many forms, such as reducing downstream flooding, offering a resource to multiple local governments, or crafting a pilot project with replicability in other places.
A critical component of developing the portfolio was finding achievable paths to implementation, including funding sources and capacity considerations. The region had the opportunity to select a project for seed funding from the Duke Energy Resilience Accelerator Grant Program.
Resource Documents
The RISE effort builds on analysis and planning conducted over the last several years. These resources include: