Resilience working group launches to coordinate regional planning and finance, co‑chairs say

A regional Resilience Working Group convened at Penmore to begin shaping cross‑jurisdictional strategies for reducing disaster risk in the Pacific Northwest and adjacent Canadian provinces, co‑chairs said.

Representative Brandy Donaghy of Washington, one of the group’s co‑chairs, described recurring and overlapping hazards in her Snohomish County district — wildfires, landslides, flooding and seismic risk — and called resilience "the insurance" communities need to recover faster after disasters. "Every dollar that we put into resilience and prevention saves us anywhere from $6 to $8 in recovery," Donaghy said.

Lionel, the session co‑chair and moderator, outlined the working group’s near‑term structure: three panels focused on planning and prevention; design and construction; and risk management and finance. He said the group will finish a draft charter, gather baseline risk inventories and identify building code gaps and funding strategies before reconvening in September.

The meeting drew speakers from government, research institutions and the insurance and materials sectors who emphasized different levers for action. Senator Paula Simons of Alberta urged national and international leadership to address shared infrastructure vulnerabilities exposed by recent floods and wildfires, citing the need for coordinated funding and clear responsibilities across municipalities, provinces and federal governments.

Panelists and the co‑chairs emphasized participation and practical next steps: compiling data, hearing from stakeholders, and producing a prioritized work program to present at the next meeting. The co‑chairs asked attendees to join panels and contribute expertise; the next plenary meeting was set for September, with materials and a roster to be circulated to members in advance.