Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Resilience Adaptation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Three-university team presents RAFT resilience assessment, schedules Aug. 18 workshop
Summary
Researchers from UVA, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech briefed the Board on the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT), gave James City County a 79% score, and invited residents to an Aug. 18 regional workshop to develop a one-year resilience action checklist.
A research team from the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech on July 22 presented the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) findings for the Historic Triangle and James City County to the Board of Supervisors and invited residents to a regional resilience workshop on Monday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the James City County Recreation Center.
Dr. Wendy Stout (Virginia Tech) and Elizabeth Andrews (UVA) described RAFT as a three-step, community-driven framework (quantitative scorecard, qualitative assessment and a regional workshop) that produces an 'opportunity list' and a locally crafted 'resilience action checklist' for implementation with university support over the subsequent year. Meredith Keppel summarized a qualitative assessment of 52 participants that identified community strengths (strong volunteer and nonprofit networks, cultural and historic assets) and vulnerabilities (affordability, access to services, stormwater and septic/failing wastewater in some areas).
The RAFT scorecard rated James City County 89 out of 113 applicable metrics (79%), placing the county between neighboring York County (81%) and the City of Williamsburg (74%). The highest-scoring category was risk assessment and emergency management; the lowest was community engagement, health and well-being. Presenters said the county's resilience actions are stronger than the public branding suggests ' many resilience measures already exist but are not labeled as such.
The team said two 'must-do' near-term items identified by local staff are establishing a resilience coordination team and training program, and conducting community engagement that maps residents' lived experience and identifies vulnerable neighbors. The Aug. 18 regional workshop will split participants into locality groups (James City County led by Virginia Tech) to develop three to five priority actions; the implementation phase includes monthly university-facilitated implementation-team meetings to help localities advance items and connect to state agencies and grant resources.
Presenters noted that the RAFT is a tool, not a plan, and said the project can help align other county plans (CIP, comprehensive plan, hazard mitigation) and support the county's Community Flood Preparedness Fund work. There was discussion about the workshop timing: presenters said they chose 4 to 7 p.m. to make the session accessible to both people who work daytime hours and parents, and they are exploring childcare options and outreach to local churches and after-school programs to widen participation.
The presentation was informational; the board voiced support and encouraged broad community participation in the Aug. 18 workshop.
