Already the country’s lowest-lying state, Delaware is experiencing more frequent flooding events as an impact of climate change. /DNREC photo

Highlights Include Governor’s Proclamation, Interactive Quiz

In conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Governor John Carney has proclaimed May 15 to 19 as Delaware Flood Awareness Week. The goal is to better inform residents about flood risk, likelihood of flooding from extreme weather events brought on by climate change, the importance of having a flood insurance policy, and about flood remediation for addressing property damage or loss.

“Unfortunately, extreme weather events are becoming more common in Delaware,” said Governor Carney. “We want to make sure that Delawareans stay safe and are prepared for unexpected flood events. I want to thank DNREC and DEMA for their partnership in Flood Awareness Week and urge Delawareans to learn more about the risks of flooding and ways to prepare for extreme weather.”

In Delaware, the most prominent impacts of climate change are sea level rise, increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns, including extreme weather events and flooding. Delaware’s Climate Action Plan is a resource for how the state can better prepare to deal with these impacts.

Throughout the Delaware Flood Awareness Week, DNREC and DEMA are also partnering with other organizations including the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Delaware to highlight numerous other resources for flood awareness in Delaware, to include flood risk training, an interactive quiz, and a floodplain mapping tool.

“We can sound the alarm that extreme weather events are getting worse every year and that flood risk is greater than ever before in Delaware,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “But action begins with awareness and in acknowledging that we’re up against it as the lowest-lying state – increasingly vulnerable to flooding from one end of the state to the other and on our coasts as well. The Governor’s proclaiming another Flood Awareness Week is outreach that speaks both to the urgency of the situation and to what Delawareans can do in confronting what the future will bring. Preparedness has many hats – from having a flood insurance policy, to using the state’s new flood planning tool, to commencing new home construction where appropriately sited. Flood Awareness Week covers all that and can be of benefit for public health and safety, regardless of whether a resident is a property owner or renter.”

“Floods are one of the most common hazards across the country. Flooding can happen quickly, and we must be aware of changing conditions and our surroundings. It is important for Delaware residents to stay safe by being proactive and knowing what to do and staying aware of flood risks in their communities,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr.

On Friday, May 12, DNREC is a partner in presenting a pre-Flood Awareness week kickoff event, “Creating a Flood-Ready Community” offered in conjunction with the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, Delaware Sea Grant and the DNREC Coastal Training Program. The course, to be held in person at DNREC’s St. Jones Coastal Training Center in the Kitts Hummock community, covers basic risk and hazard concepts, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mapping, the Delaware flood insurance program, tools to prevent hazards in a cost-effective manner, and strategies for reducing exposure. For more information, visit de.gov/dnrecmeetings.

On, Monday, May 15, the second annual Delaware Flood Awareness Week formally begins with DNREC and DEMA highlighting preparedness with an interactive quiz and social media content. The quiz and much more information about flood awareness can be found at de.gov/floodrisk.

Also on May 15, DNREC’s Coastal Training Program and the University of Delaware Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis will offer demonstrations of coastal monitoring tools used to monitor weather and flooding along Delaware’s coasts. The virtual training session will be presented twice, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Delaware Flood Awareness Week seeks to help the public become better informed about flood insurance, which provides policy holders with financial security and ensures quick recovery of personal property from flood damage.

An article, “Flooding – What You Can Do” published in the Outdoor Delaware online magazine explains what Delawareans can do to protect against flooding. DNREC also provides the Delaware Flood Planning Tool app, which can be used to quickly determine flood risk for a particular property and is found at de.gov/floodplanning.

DNREC’s and DEMA’s shared social media message for awareness week is “Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Know your flood risk. Use the Delaware Flood Planning Tool to view other flood risk information for your property.”

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

About DEMA
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery and mitigation services in order to save lives, protect Delaware’s economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and is authorized by Delaware Code, Title 20,Chapter 31§3101-3130.

Media contacts:
DNREC: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov
DEMA: John Petersen, john.petersen@delaware.gov

###

A living shoreline installed by the Galveston Bay Foundation near the Port of Houston.

The Galveston Bay Foundation and managing living shorelines in a Texas estuary are the topic of a free webinar at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, presented by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee. The webinar speaker is Hallie Leija, habitat restoration manager for the Galveston Bay Foundation.

Leija will provide an overview of living shoreline projects in Galveston Bay, the largest estuary in Texas. The presentation will showcase how the wetlands and coastal areas in Galveston Bay have experienced a multitude of impacts from subsidence, hurricanes, and floods. The webinar will also highlight shoreline challenges associated with the shipping industry at the Port of Houston, one of the country’s largest ports. The webinar presenter will focus on how the Galveston Bay Foundation works with local partners and private landowners to install natural erosion control systems while also restoring important coastal habitat. Additionally, the lecture will review protection and restoration projects in intertidal marshes and shorelines.

The webinar is part of an ongoing virtual series offered by the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, a workgroup dedicated to facilitating the understanding, peer review and implementation of living shoreline strategy within the state. DNREC’s participation is represented by the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment program and the DNREC Coastal Training program.

For more information, visit DelawareLivingShorelines.org. Registration for the webinar can be found at de.gov/DNRECmeetings.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

Rachel Felver, Communications Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

A social marketing strategy to improve shoreline management is the topic of a free webinar at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16, presented by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee.

The webinar speaker is Rachel Felver, the communications director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, who will provide an overview of the strategy involving a community-based social marketing campaign.

Felver’s presentation will showcase how the campaign influences environmentally sensitive actions in relation to shoreline management, specifically with living shorelines. The webinar will highlight how shoreline degradation has a direct and negative impact on water quality, while natural shoreline protection provides more resilience against climate change. The webinar presenter will focus on the materials, preparation and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay specific marketing strategy. Additionally, the lecture will review the project findings, share the toolkits created, and ask for assistance in helping identify the best methods to put this information into the hands of those who could use it.

The webinar is part of an ongoing virtual series offered by the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, a work group dedicated to facilitating the understanding, peer review and implementation of living shoreline strategy within the state. DNREC’s participation is represented by the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment program and the DNREC Coastal Training program.

For more information, visit Delaware Living Shorelines. Registration for the webinar and more information about it are also available on the DNREC events and meetings calendar at de.gov/DNRECmeetings.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

Dr. Joshua Moody, Restoration Programs Manager for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

The living shoreline feasibility model as a tool for green infrastructure design is the topic of a free webinar at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, presented by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee.

The webinar speaker is Dr. Joshua Moody, Restoration Programs manager for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. Moody will provide an overview of the living shoreline feasibility model (LSFM) and how the tool evaluates a variety of metrics to assess considerations when installing and maintaining a living shoreline. The presentation will showcase how the LSFM guides users in collecting information on the physical and ecological characteristics of a specific site location, as well as factors related to site access and community resources.

The model provides a relative evaluation of sites and can integrate with baseline data on existing conditions to help inform team building, design and installation planning. The webinar presenter will discuss how the LSFM can be used to assist in the implementation of site selection and inform the various types of expertise required for success. Additionally, the lecture will touch on how the model can help practitioners better understand how to phase a multi-step project.

The webinar is part of an ongoing virtual series offered by the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, a work group dedicated to facilitating the understanding, peer review and implementation of living shoreline strategy within the state. DNREC’s participation is represented by the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment program and the DNREC Coastal Training program.

More information, including registration, can be found at de.gov/livingshorelinewebinar.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

###

Webinar speaker Capt. Alek Modjeski will discuss case studies of living shoreline projects in New Jersey

The importance of community engagement and involvement in shoreline restoration projects is the topic of a free webinar at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, presented by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee.

The webinar speaker is Capt. Alek Modjeski, a professional ecologist, fisheries biologist, and the habitat restoration program director for the American Littoral Society.

Modjeski will provide an overview of coastal estuarine restoration projects that have a strong emphasis on community engagement and involvement. The presentation will showcase how the use of public and private partnerships create connectivity and resiliency throughout the habitat restoration process. This model includes several case studies of projects conducted throughout New Jersey focusing on the application of living shorelines. The webinar presenter will discuss how these projects goals extend beyond just restoring coastal areas to increase the ecosystem’s resiliency and functionality for the future. A unique feature of the case studies in this lecture will identify the involvement of a workforce consisting of military veterans and volunteers.

The webinar is part of an ongoing virtual series offered by the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, a work group dedicated to facilitating the understanding, peer review and implementation of living shoreline strategy within the state. DNREC’s participation is represented by the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment program and the DNREC Coastal Training program.

For more information, visit Delaware Living Shorelines. Registration for the webinar and more information about it are also available on the DNREC events and meetings calendar at de.gov/DNRECmeetings.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov