What is Resilient Connecticut?
CIRCA, in coordination with state agencies, regional councils of governments (COGs) and municipalities, has initiated Resilient Connecticut, as part of the HUD National Disaster Resilience Competition. Resilient Connecticut provides the state with a Planning Framework piloted in the Superstorm Sandy impacted regions of New Haven and Fairfield Counties and now expanded statewide. The project focuses on regional resilience and adaptation planning through engagement and risk assessments that inform municipal to regional scale initiatives and pilot projects. Resilient Connecticut’s guiding principle is to establish resilient communities through smart planning that incorporates economic development framed around transit-oriented development, conservation strategies, and critical infrastructure improvements.
Select your Resource Type, Focus Area and/or Town to access a filtered selection of Resilient Connecticut materials.
Resilient Connecticut Planning Project Locations
This interactive map shows the locations of the Resilient CT projects. Click on the blue icons to open a pop-up. In the pop-up, select "View" to access the project page for Fairfield and New Haven Counties, where you can find detailed information and the final report. Projects in RiverCOG and Southeastern COG are underway, and their pages will be created as more information becomes available. You may also access the information from this map under Phase III on the Planning Phases page.
Planning
Learn more about the Resilient Connecticut planning process including the Phase I Planning Framework, the Phase II Final Reports, Vulnerability and Assessment Reports and Maps, and the Phase III project area materials.
Map Viewers
View CIRCA’s maps including the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), Resilient CT program StoryMaps, the Connecticut Environmental Justice Screening Tool, the CT Sea Level Rise (SLR) viewer, and more.
Events
Learn more about CIRCA’s past and upcoming events including the annual summit and various webinars. Access recordings, slides, and other meeting materials.
Featured Updates
CIRCA is 10!
CIRCA marked its 10-year anniversary on Thursday, October 10th, with a special event at UConn Avery Point. The event, held from 10 am to 12:30 pm, highlighted CIRCA’s mission to help Connecticut’s vulnerable communities become more resilient to the growing impacts of climate change.
New StoryMap Launched
The CIRCA-DEEP Climate & Equity Grant Program will be launching for a second round this summer – keep an eye out for upcoming announcements with more details, and in the meantime check out this StoryMap featuring the pilot round grantees here!
Climate Resilient Zoning Training
Interested in how to use zoning to increase a town's climate resilience? CIRCA’s Climate Resilient Zoning Training covers topics to help land use officials increase municipal climate resilience. Training modules and factsheet are available online and fulfill one hour of state mandated training for Municipal Land Use Commissioners. If you would like an in-person presentation of the Land Use Commissioner training, please contact CIRCA.
Climate Resilience with CIRCA
From the Long Island Sound to Hartford and beyond, the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation uses research and community engagement to protect communities across the state from the effects of climate change.