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County advances flood mitigation framework, brownfields inventory and VOAD revival; symposium set for Nov. 19
Summary
Charleston County staff reported completion of a multi-hazard vulnerability assessment and said two grant-funded resilience strategies'a flood-mitigation prioritization framework and a brownfields strategic plan'are ready to inform stormwater planning and EPA brownfields grant applications.
Charleston County resilience staff reported progress on resilience planning rooted in a multi-hazard vulnerability assessment completed in October 2024 and described two initiatives funded by the Climate Smart Communities Initiative through the consultant Fernleaf. The deliverables included a flood-mitigation prioritization framework and a brownfields strategic plan and inventory intended to inform project selection and future grant applications.
Staff said the flood-mitigation framework overlays flood-hazard risk and existing flood insurance-policy data to identify areas where mitigation investments would have the most impact. The framework is designed to help the county prioritize projects (for example, promoting flood insurance uptake in higher-capacity areas while directing infrastructure mitigation to lower-capacity, high-vulnerability areas) and staff said they plan to coordinate the framework with an upcoming stormwater master-planning effort.
On brownfields, staff reported completion of an updated inventory and a data report that could be used to apply for EPA brownfields remediation grants; the staff member said an EPA Brownfields Notice of Funding Opportunity becomes available in mid-September and that the county is coordinating with Community Services and Community Development on grant submittals. Staff described community engagement in identifying candidate sites for remediation and potential revitalization.
Separately, staff described efforts to reactivate a Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) group. Staff said TriNet United Way has agreed to serve as the VOAD's fiscal sponsor and that initial workshops have drawn roughly 70 organizations with about 45 registrants for the next meeting; staff said TriNet United Way is fundraising to support a full-time coordinator who would serve as a liaison with the county's emergency operations center. Staff emphasized the VOAD is intended to be community led, with government serving as liaison rather than the lead organization.
Staff also outlined a resilience and sustainability symposium scheduled for Nov. 19 at Trident Technical College. The one-day event (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will convene local, state and federal staff, nonprofit and private-sector partners and invited elected officials. Staff said planned components include breakout sessions on climate/sustainability and hazard-vulnerability planning, poster sessions, a moderated lunch panel with elected officials, and a final session on next steps for collaboration. Staff said invited officials include "Mister Middleton and Mister Duncan of the state office of resilience," and additional invited local mayors and elected leaders.
No formal board action was taken at the meeting on these items; staff outlined next steps including grant applications, coordination with stormwater planning, VOAD committee formation and symposium logistics.
