SERIES OF FLOODING ADAPTATION FORUMS HELD AT VMASC

Can Hampton Roads localities work together to combat the increased flooding risk that has been evident in the region in recent years and has been predicted to increase significantly through this century? That was a goal addressed by a series of Adaptation Forums, the first of which was held at Old Dominion 's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) in Suffolk.

ODU, Virginia Sea Grant (VSG) and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission have joined to present "Increased Flooding Risk Due to Sea Level Rise in Hampton Roads - Concerns, Best Practices and Plans for Adaptation" in a series of four forums over the next 18 months.

The VSG is funding the effort, which is being led by Troy W. Hartley of Virginia Institute of Marine Science and VSG. Larry Atkinson, ODU Slover Professor of Oceanography who directs the university's Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Initiative (CCSLRI), and Ariel Pinto, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, are also on the forum project team. The fourth member of the team is Benjamin McFarlane of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

The first forum began with an overview section of the program including contributions from Atkinson, Pinto and Barry Ezell, the VMASC chief scientist. A late-morning discussion section included a specific segment on "lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy."

Atkinson said the forums are to encourage regional discussions among municipalities toward adopting effective adaptation designs and plans to deal with rising sea levels. Forum participants will include academics and local, regional, state and federal agency officials with authority and responsibility for critical infrastructure and facilities in Hampton Roads. Included will be engineers, planners, facility managers, emergency response directors and administrators.

To continue reading, click here.