What is Resilience? Resilience is the ability of a region or community to anticipate, withstand, and bounce back from any type of shock, disruption, or stressor. These shocks can include natural disasters, hazards, and the impacts of a changing climate, but also man-made economic disruptions such as the closure of a region’s large employer, the decline of an important industry, changes in the workforce, and shifts in population trends. The power of resilience planning is that it focuses both on emergency response – how to deal with the immediate impact of a disruptive event – as well as how to prepare and organize in advance and rebuild afterwards with a coherent framework.

The NWCCOG EDD CEDS identified the following key vulnerabilities for the region, such that we can work as a region on becoming more resilient to these factors:

• Adapting to our changing climate
• Understanding risks from natural and other hazards
• Addressing social inequities and unique community needs
• Pursuing economic diversity and vibrancy