Horsley Witten Group supports municipal, state, and federal agencies as well as private organizations in planning for climate resilience and adaptation. Changing
conditions require a fresh look at policies, investments, and infrastructure. We help our clients understand the implications of climate change and how to plan
accordingly, whether they are focused on a particular site or a broad region. Then,we help our clients implement those plans.
Our work may include vulnerability assessments, resilience planning, adaptation action plans, code revisions, emergency preparedness plans, and training. In addition, we help our clients consider climate risk within the traditional bounds of any of their projects—after all, a changing climate is the new baseline condition.
drought response workshops
HW has worked with the US EPA facilitating drought response workshops across the country for almost a decade. EPA resources are shared with water sector utilities to help prepare them for response and recovery from droughts. The workshops provide an opportunity for state agencies, water sector utilities, and associations to share resources, best practices, and lessons learned from historic drought events. We teach water sector utilities staff about water auditing resources and introduce a variety of state and federal mitigation funding opportunities.
hurricane disaster resilience technical assistance
HW led a Technical Assistance Team in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, and Sanibel, Florida. The team helped each community develop preliminary designs for resiliency projects that fit with ongoing recovery efforts and seeking additional funding. HW facilitated workshops and developed concept designs including community-wide mobility, connectivity improvements, open space and park revitalization, downtown revitalization and streetscapes, and waterfront improvements.
hazard mitigation plan updates
A hazard mitigation plan that is up-to-date helps communities plan for and reduce the impacts of natural hazards. Working with FEMA and municipalities, HW facilitates an approach that features: a planning process, risk assessment, mitigation strategy, and plan maintenance. HW has assisted communities and tribes in MA and RI, including Marblehead, Sudbury, Brewster, Scituate, Rockport, Plymouth, Taunton, Natick, Kingston, New Bedford, Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, Chicahominy Tribe, Clinton, Bristol, Cumberland, East Greenwich, and Providence.
ma municipal vulnerability preparedness program
MA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) programs provide municipalities with support to plan and implement climate change resiliency projects. HW MVP clients include Newburyport, Newbury, Peabody, Brewster, Tisbury, Kingston, Taunton, and Shrewsbury. Certified staff facilitate active discussions and offer expertise in natural hazard mitigation planning, emergency preparedness/response, floodplain management, ecosystem and water resources management, and municipal and environmental planning. We support project implementation and enhanced equity in
the communities’ resilience activities through MVP Action Grants and MVP 2.0.
Climate Resilience code assessment and revisions
HW supported the Town of Carlisle, MA in identifying a variety of code revisions to meet its climate resilience goals and also identified complementary goals that can be addressed through town policies, public education, and town projects. We performed a resilience-focused audit of the zoning, land development, and environmental regulations in the Town of Cumberland, RI, with funding from the RI Infrastructure Bank. Both projects involved working with stakeholder groups, town staff, board members, and stage agency staff to identify priority climate risks and code revisions.
