Resiliency committee launches flooding survey; marketing committee to help distribution

Sally, representing the resiliency committee, briefed the Marketing Committee on a new flooding survey intended to support a sea‑level change needs assessment being conducted by engineering firm GMB. She read the resident survey heading and sample questions — including "What is the address of your property? Have you been impacted by flooding? When did the flooding occur?" — and described a second, slightly more detailed business survey listing prior local events such as Sandy (2012) and Winter Storm Jonas (2016) as examples of past impacts.

Sally said the consultant asked for photos and specific location information to map problem areas. Committee members responded with practical feedback: differentiate rain from tidal flooding in responses; use the town website and newsletter for distribution; and leverage a business email list and the Civic League to reach more residents. Paul Bauer emphasized that the survey is intended to map chronic problem areas rather than ordinary heavy rain, and Susan of the Civic League agreed to circulate survey information in her email blast.

Operationally, the town will host the survey so responses and photos are collected in a single, auditable location. Sally asked members for suggestions on dissemination; the committee proposed a combination of website posting, newsletter links and direct outreach (DMs and business emails). Sally said she will add contact information for photo submissions and work with Kate to link the survey through town channels.

The committee expects the survey to inform the consultant’s recommendations and to help plan future resiliency projects; the committee urged residents and businesses to submit photos or reports of flooding incidents.