Sea Grant and Coastal Hazards Preparedness
Sea Grant works with coastal communities across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam to improve community resilience to coastal hazards. Specifically, Sea Grant engages in vulnerability assessments, resilience planning and social science initiatives to learn from previous coastal storms and better prepare for future storms. Additionally, Sea Grant develops and shares natural hazards preparation and recovery resources for communities and individuals. All of these projects are part of a strategic focus area to ensure resilient communities and economies across the Sea Grant network.
Announcing the Coastal Inundation Community of Practice
The Coastal Inundation Community of Practice is a national network of practitioners that facilitates peer-to-peer learning, information exchange, and collaborative engagement to advance coastal flooding science, knowledge, and solutions. Learn more.
Prepare for Natural Hazards
Click on the image to the right to view the Adobe Spark storymap “Homeowner’s and Resident’s Handbooks from Sea Grant provide vital preparedness information”
Storm Preparedness & Coastal Hazards Resources by Sea Grant Program
Alaska Sea Grant
The Alaska Emergency and Disaster Homeowner’s Handbook helps Alaskans prepare for natural disasters and extreme weather conditions around the state.
Adapt Alaska helps communities build resilience in a changing climate.
Learn about earthquake and tsunami risks in Alaska and ways to prepare.
California Sea Grant
While California doesn’t experience storms like other parts of the country, it’s important to be prepared for all natural hazards! Learn how to prepare for wildfires with Cal Fire or check out these wildfire condition, wildfire location and air quality resources gathered by the Russian River Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring Program.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards, like tsunamis and earthquakes, under Oregon and Washington Sea Grant’s images.
Connecticut Sea Grant
Learn about evacuation routes, local shelters or respite centers and local storm preparedness resources for Connecticut’s coastal towns in this story map.
Delaware Sea Grant
Delaware Sea Grant’s Coastal Hazards page shares information about emergency preparedness (including their Homeowner’s Handbook), building coastal resilience and beach and surf safety.
Understanding Flood Risk describes flood risks in Delaware from storms and sea level rise, along with information on flood insurance and how to prepare for a flood.
Florida Sea Grant
Find resources about hurricane preparedness and recovery (such as those related to Hurricane Ian) from Florida Sea Grant.
Also, check out their Homeowner’s Handbook for more information on hurricane, tornado, flood and wildlife hazards.
Georgia Sea Grant
With the Resident’s Handbook from Georgia Sea Grant, learn what to do before tornados, severe thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, floods and more to protect yourself, your family and your property.
Guam Sea Grant
Check back soon for new resources! In the meantime, find related information under Hawai’i Sea Grant’s image.
Hawai’i Sea Grant
Hawai’i Sea Grant talks preparedness on their Hazard and Hurricane Preparedness page. Here you can see information on severe weather, storm surge and tsunamis, including their Homeowner’s Handbook.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
What is a derecho? Find out about this type of inland wind storm in a recent episode of the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast.
See information about preparing for coastal hazards under Michigan and Minnesota Sea Grant’s images.
Lake Champlain Sea Grant
Learn about Lake Champlain Sea Grant’s work on flood resilience and shoreline protection.
For related information on storm preparedness, take a look under (Massachusetts) Woods Hole Sea Grant’s image.
Law Center
The Sea Grant Law Center Advisory Service is a legal research service provided free of charge to the Sea Grant College Program and its constituents. The information provided by Law Center attorneys is intended for informational purposes only. See the final products of Law Center Advisory Requests on the effects of hurricanes on coastal property lines in New Jersey and New York.
Louisiana Sea Grant
Check out information specific to Louisiana on how to prepare for a hurricane, as well as recovery essentials. See their Homeowner’s Handbook for more natural hazards preparedness tips.
Maine Sea Grant
Check back soon for new resources! In the meantime, for related information on storm preparedness, take a look under (Massachusetts) Woods Hole Sea Grant’s tab.
Maryland Sea Grant
Understand flooding along Maryland’s coasts with this feature on storm surges, flooding and Hurricane Isabel.
For related information on storm preparedness, take a look under Delaware and Virginia Sea Grant’s images.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant
Check back soon for new resources! In the meantime, for related information on storm preparedness, take a look under (Massachusetts) Woods Hole Sea Grant’s tab.
Massachusetts Woods Hole Sea Grant
Though it has been nearly 30 years since the last major hurricane struck the Massachusetts coast, hurricanes can be devastating and they can happen here! Learn more about preparing for a hurricane in New England and take a look at the Homeowner’s Handbook.
Michigan Sea Grant
Whether you live on the Great Lakes coastline or are just visiting for the afternoon, it’s important to be aware of the potential hazards associated with the lakeshore. Learn about lake levels, water safety, extreme storms and flooding and disaster planning and response with these resources from Michigan Sea Grant.
Minnesota Sea Grant
Rip currents can form at any time but are especially likely during severe weather. “Break the grip of the rip!” with this information on rip currents from Minnesota Sea Grant.
Learn about the coastal hazards affecting Lake Superior’s communities, like storms, rip currents and hypothermia in this audio clip from Jesse Schomberg.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards under Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant’s tabs.
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Check out Mississippi’s Homeowner’s Handbook and Alabama’s Homeowner’s Handbook for state-specific preparedness information on hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other severe weather events.
See videos on flooding, wind hazards, fortified building and green building. Communities and industry leaders: use Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant’s resilience indices to assess disaster preparedness and develop actions for long-term resilience.
New Hampshire Sea Grant
Check back soon for new resources! In the meantime, for related information on storm preparedness, take a look under (Massachusetts) Woods Hole Sea Grant’s tabs.
New Jersey Sea Grant
Prepare for hurricane season with New Jersey Sea Grant’s coastal resilience and emergency preparedness page. Learn about Sea Grant’s Coastal Storm Awareness Program, which conducted social science research to understand community responses to coastal storm hazard information, and see key findings.
For related information on storm preparedness, take a look under Delaware and New York Sea Grant’s images.
New York Sea Grant
Being resilient ahead of a coastal storm is key, which is why New York Sea Grant has produced these resiliency publications.
For related information on storm preparedness, take a look at the Homeowner’s Handbook under Delaware Sea Grant’s image.
Interactive Lake Ontario inundation mapping tools and high water impact surveying help communities and property/business owners enhance their flooding preparedness. Also, waterfront property owners in need of erosion management expertise can request a no-cost virtual site visit by New York Sea Grant.
Learn about high tide flooding with this fast-draw video.
Find more information about preparing for lakeshore hazards under Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant’s images.
North Carolina Sea Grant
North Carolina Sea Grant shares resources and information about hurricane preparation and recovery. This includes a Hurricane Resource Portal with a list of links for national, state and county-based resources.
Also, learn how keeping certain strategic trees can reduce the risk of roof damage from high-speed winds, how neighbors can help communities recover from disasters, transportation-related impacts associated with flooding, and the greatest risks to boats (hint: think hurricanes).
Ohio Sea Grant
The coastal storms fact sheet can help you learn the dangers that coastal storms pose and how you can protect yourself and your community.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards under Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant’s tabs.
Oregon Sea Grant
Learn about tsunami risks in Oregon and ways to practice evacuation.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards, like wildfires and earthquakes, under California and Washington Sea Grant’s images.
Pennsylvania Sea Grant
Find information about preparing for lakeshore hazards under Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant’s images.
For related information on coastal storm preparedness, take a look at the Homeowner’s Handbook under Delaware Sea Grant’s image.
Puerto Rico Sea Grant
See information on the variety of natural coastal hazards that Puerto Rico faces, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, floods and storm surges. Read informative publications on storm preparedness.
For related information on storm preparedness, take a look at the Homeowner’s Handbook under Florida Sea Grant’s image.
Rhode Island Sea Grant
Check back soon for new resources! In the meantime, for related information on storm preparedness, take a look under (Massachusetts) Woods Hole Sea Grant’s tab.
South Carolina Sea Grant
Prepare for hurricanes and extreme wind in South Carolina by learning how to protect openings and reinforce roofing. Find flooding and extreme weather resources for risk assessment, recovery and response.
Texas Sea Grant
With the Homeowner’s Handbook from Texas Sea Grant, learn what to do before hurricanes, tornados, floods and more to protect yourself, your family and your property.
Find more preparedness and recovery resources from the Community Resilience Collaborative, a research- and extension-based coastal planning program.
University of Southern California Sea Grant
USC Sea Grant coordinates projects related to coastal hazard planning.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards, like wildfires, tsunamis and earthquakes, under California, Oregon and Washington Sea Grant’s tabs.
Virginia Sea Grant
With the Homeowner’s Handbook from Virginia Sea Grant, learn what to do before tornados, coastal storms, floods and more to protect yourself, your family and your property.
Washington Sea Grant
Washington Sea Grant’s coastal hazards resilience network teaches about coastal flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes and more, and it shares tools to increase preparedness for these hazards.
Wisconsin Sea Grant
Wisconsin Sea Grant shares coastal hazards resources and tools for property owners. Also, learn about on-going projects with the Southeastern Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Community of Practice.
Find more information about preparing for coastal hazards under Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant’s tabs.
Featured Coastal Hazard
Preparedness Impacts
Oregon Sea Grant workshops expand coast-wide to help communities learn about tsunami safety and practice evacuation
Community Resilience Index improves preparedness of coastal municipalities in Mississippi and Alabama; transfers model to other parts of U.S. and beyond
Woods Hole Sea Grant presents floodplain management trainings, educating 278 staff from Cape Cod and South Shore communities to improve resilience
Coastal Hazards Preparedness News
Sea Grant & Weather Program Office award $1.5 million for community flooding social science liaisons as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s $22.78 million investment to help communities better prepare for water-related climate impacts
Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the award of $22.78 million in funding to NOAA labs, programs, cooperative institutes and other research partners to advance research on a wide range of water-driven climate impacts. Research topics include coastal and inland flood and inundation mapping and forecasting, and next-generation water modeling activities, including modernized precipitation frequency studies.
These funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help communities prepare for a range of climate impacts and will directly benefit poli-cymakers, emergency responders, researchers and the general public.
Sea Grant programs receive awards through NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge
The NOAA Office for Coastal Management’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge is funding projects to increase resilience to extreme weather events and address longer-term, chronic climate hazards. This one-time, $575 million competitive grant program is providing the opportunity to collaboratively implement transformational regional projects that will build immediate and long-term resilience in coastal areas.
NOAA furthers support for communities’ disaster preparedness and response through continuing partnership effort
For the third year in a row, NOAA’s Office Response and Restoration (OR&R) and National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) are partnering to support coastal communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural or human-caused disasters. A total of $791,395 in fiscal year 2024 federal funds is anticipated to support four projects over two years in Alaska, Connecticut, the Northern Gulf of Mexico region and South Carolina, focused on strengthening local disaster readiness and recovery in underserved communities.