FAQs

The RDN is using the most up-to-date methods to both understand natural hazards under climate change conditions AND to assess the level of risk (consequence and likelihood) specific natural hazards pose to property, people, the local economy and the natural environment.  

The findings of the  All Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment provided an high-level assessment identifying the geological hazards of significant risk, specially river and coastal flooding and landslides. Each of the subsequent studies are designed to drill down to what this means at a regional and community - level. 

Through the Coastal Flood Hazard Mapping Project  we gained a better understanding of the coastal flood hazard under different scenarios – present day and future. Specifically the study asked: where and how deep might it flood during different coastal storm events? And, how does this change with sea level rise? What is the suitable elevation for new construction in the coastal zone (i.e., floodplain), incorporating allowances for climate change?

The proposed Climate Risk Assessment for the Coastal Floodplain study is  the next step, focusing on risk. The data from the Coastal Flood Hazard Mapping Project will be used to answer a different set of questions: What areas and features along the coast are most vulnerable to the coastal hazard (i.e., storm surge and sea level rise) under climate change conditions? What is the potential risk (low, moderate and high) to people, property, the local economy and the natural environment?  

The Geohazard Risk Priority Study follows a similar approach (i.e., know the hazard then assess the risk), the difference is the focus is on a different type of natural hazard – landslides.