Resource Database

The resource database is a comprehensive catalogue of all the materials on the Resilient Connecticut website. Select your Resource Type, Focus Area and/or Town to access a filtered selection of Resilient Connecticut materials.

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Focus Area

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They Want to Rebuild. Can They Afford to Prevent the Next Fire, Too?

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In the Media

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Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

NY Times

Palisades fire victims want to raise money for disaster hardening. Their idea could be a model — if it can get past L.A.’s most vexing housing problems.

by Scott Dance

Reporting from Pacific Palisades, Calif.

March 13, 2026

Allison Holdorff Polhill looks out at the slice of paradise she’s rebuilding near the Pacific coast, and worries.

In her backyard, a utility pole towers over a small pool — the only thing left of her home of 30 years after the Palisades fire flattened 97 percent of her neighborhood in 2025.

But sometimes when Ms. Polhill gazes across the blocks of empty lots, lonely chimneys and front steps to nowhere, she sees possibilities.

Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

ByKevin Guinan February 6, 2026

A project by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation won a grant for over $250,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) after the Trump administration disrupted the award process, according to the project’s principal investigator. The project, called “Identifying Community Need-Based Adaptation and Resilience Priorities in the U.S. Northeast,” is part of the first phase of NSF’s Regional Resilience Innovation Incubators (R2I2) grant program.

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SECWAC Hosts Talk on ‘Climate Change in Connecticut, and Some Impacts,’ Jan. 21

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Presentations

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Planning

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Old Lyme

January 15, 2026 by Community Desk

OLD LYME, CT – On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) will host James O’Donnell, Ph.D., for a talk titled “Climate Change in Connecticut, and Some Impacts.” The 6 p.m. presentation will be held at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 5 Ferry Road. The talk will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception. SECWAC in a press release said O’Donnell, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Connecticut and executive director of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), will summarize observed changes in climate and the latest projections of what is likely. He will also outline the consequences of these changes on infrastructure and people.

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Adapting to flooding southeastern Connecticut

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

By Theresa Sullivan Barger, Special to The Day

The Day

Published: Dec 27, 2025 3:00 PM Updated: Dec 29, 2025 12:48 PM

Increased development adds to the problem. The reduction in ‘pervious’ or ‘porous’ surfaces — forests, gardens, parks and lawns — that absorb and filter precipitation, and the increase in impervious surfaces—parking lots, roads, driveways and rooftops—means there is less ground to absorb rainfall, said John Truscinski, director of resilience planning for the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), which operates from UConn’s Avery Point campus. “We’ve always had to deal with flooding, occasional extreme rainfall or a tidal storm surge,” Truscinski said. Climate change is impacting those hazards in a couple of ways: the global sea level is rising in the Northeast much faster than across the world, he said. One of CIRCA’s earliest charges was to look at weather data in Long Island Sound, including one collection point in New London dating back to 1938. Based on CIRCA’s analysis of data from global climate models, in 2018 it recommended that municipalities plan for up to 20 inches of sea level rise by 2050, he said. Rising sea levels change the frequency and depth of flooding along the coast of Connecticut, Truscinski said, “making the more frequent storms more damaging.”

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CT Coastal cities face threat of rising sea levels a new project looks to build up their resiliency

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In the Media

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In the Media

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Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

UConn Today, December 15, 2025 | Loretta Waldman

Funded by a $500,000 NSF grant, the two-year initiative spearheaded by researchers at UConn-based Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) will ensure coastal communities have access to the expertise and tools needed to develop and implement strategies and policies that make them more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and climate change

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WestportREADS: The Real Impact of Climate Change on Connecticut Shores

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Presentations

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Westport

Event Details

In this year's WestportREADS selection, All the Water In the World by Eiren Caffall, much of Manhattan is under water due to melting glaciers. Before real life follows fiction, there are ways we can reduce the chances of warming trends. Expanding on this concept is executive director of CIRCA (the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation) James O'Donnell, who will be at the Library to share facts about the effects of climate change on the water levels of the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound. With projections for future sea levels and the implications of these findings, O'Donnell will add valuable context to the story so we can avoid living in the same urban-aquatic future as main character Nonie and her family. This event is presented in partnership with Westport's Conservation Department and Sustainable Westport.

About the Speaker

James O’Donnell is professor of marine sciences at the University of Connecticut and executive director of CIRCA (the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation). He earned a BSc in Applied Physics at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland, and an MS and PhD in Oceanography at the University of Delaware. At UConn, he lectures and conducts research on the physical processes that control the circulation, mixing, and waves in the coastal ocean, as well as providing leadership for CIRCA in its mission to assist the towns Connecticut adapt to the effects of climate change.

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Resilient CT: Piper Brook and Webster Brook Flood Analysis Final Report

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Publications and Reports

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Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Executive Summary SLR International Corporation (SLR), in partnership with the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), has prepared this study to assess climate change vulnerabilities and identify flood resilience strategies for the Town of Berlin, the City of New Britain, and the Town of Newington, as part of the Resilient Connecticut Phase III. Through the initial phases of Resilient Connecticut, CIRCA developed a Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), identified 178 Resilience Opportunity Areas (ROARs), targeting flood and heat risks. ROARs highlight the overlap between climate exposure, vulnerable populations, and critical assets, helping communities prioritize investments.

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MyCoast Connecticut pilot launches in Groton, New London, and Stonington

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

By Steve Glazier, Published September 29, 2025 • Updated on September 29, 2025 at 5:07 pm

This week marks Connecticut’s second annual Sustainability and Resiliency Week. Dozens of events will acknowledge the work to protect Connecticut’s natural resources, communities and economy. Dr. Joanna Wozniak-Brown is a climate policy and planning expert with the state of Connecticut. We asked her what she’s looking forward to during the state’s sustainability and resiliency week. “I can’t pick my favorite. It’d be really hard to pick my favorite," Dr. Wozniak-Brown said. In person, virtual and hybrid events are taking place through Friday, October 3. “The main goal is to make sure people know about the work to protect the environment. It is happening every day, and it’s happening by lots of people," she said.

Wednesday, October 1: UCONN CIRCA Climate Report

NEW BRITAIN — Residents will have the opportunity to hear updates on flood control plans for the Piper Brook and Webster Brook corridor.

State Rep. Gary Turco shared an upcoming open house, scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Alvarium Beer Company, 365 John Downey Drive, New Britain. An overview presentation is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

The event is part of the Resilient CT Piper Brook and Webster Brook Project, which is connected to the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) program. The program is designed to develop flood strategies that respond to challenges faced by residents and businesses along the two brooks. The project includes Newington, Berlin and New Britain.

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New Haven continues flood mitigation efforts despite FEMA cuts

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In the Media

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

CT Network

Recorded On: 8/11/2025

Learn more about efforts to prepare and protect Connecticut's coastal neighborhoods, beaches, and natural resources by watching this Hurricane Coastal Resiliency Panel Discussion.

Panelist: James O'Donnell

Moderated by Senator Tony Hwang

Discussion held in Fairfield, CT

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Where have FEMA grant programs in CT been cancelled?

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In the Media

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Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Environmental Justice

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Publication by CIRCA's research team "A State-Specific Approach for Visualizing Overburdened Communities: Lessons from the Connecticut Environmental Justice Screening Tool 2.0"

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Shelton Herald and Stamford Advocate By Jayden Nguyen, Staff Writer April 30, 2025 For the last 18 months, Mystic Seaport Museum has been evaluating what parts of its campus to keep — and what it needs to lose — as sea levels rise on Connecticut's shoreline. The seaport museum was featured in The New York Times on April 22 for its efforts to maintain and adapt the museum in the face of rising sea levels. The majority of the Mystic Seaport Museum is located in a FEMA-designated flood zone. It also lies in an "inundated area" along the Mystic River that is likely to be impacted by high waters, according to Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA).

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Exploring the future of Connecticut public transit

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In the Media

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Planning

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Town:

Stonington

A Seaport Museum Faces an Unlikely Threat: The Sea Itself

Rising sea levels are forcing the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut to address the long-term sustainability of its campus.

Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Newington

by Claudia S. Hilario @NEWBRITHERALD, Mar 27, 2025

NEW BRITAIN — Residents of New Britain, Berlin and Newington are encouraged to attend a forum on Wednesday to discuss ways to reduce flooding in high-risk areas.

The meeting will focus on properties along Piper Brook and Webster Brook. Attendees can brainstorm ideas from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Alvarium Beer Co., Room B-side, 365 John Downey Drive in New Britain.

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation at the University of Connecticut (UCON) is studying the Piper Brook and Webster Brook corridors.

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Reflecting on Progress: CIRCA’s Decade of Increasing Connecticut’s Climate Resilience

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In the Media

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In the Media

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Heat

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Applies to Multiple Towns

By Kevin Gaiss • Published September 25, 2024 • Updated on September 25, 2024 at 5:47 pm

DEEP announced the next phase of their Climate Resiliency Fund and is in the process to gain information from towns.

Connecticut is no stranger to extreme weather. Just last month, an unprecedented deluge of rain devastated towns in parts of western Connecticut. Now, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has announced its next phase of helping towns and cities adapt to inclement weather.

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New London flood prevention plan envisions ‘linear park’ along waterfront

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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As seas and temperatures rise, the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation uses research and community engagement to protect communities across the state

Between scorching summers and unprecedented storms, the consequences of climate change have crashed down on Connecticut in recent years. Policymakers, urban planners, and resource managers are needing to make decisions with new threats in mind: more extreme weather events, heat, and sea level rise. This last threat is something James O’Donnell, professor of marine sciences and director of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at UConn Avery Point, knows a lot about. A physical oceanographer, his research focuses on circulation and mixing in the ocean. These factors influence how sea levels will respond to climate change.

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Is your neighborhood at risk in extreme weather?

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

insideinvestigator.org by Tricia Ennis, July 25, 2024 When Connecticut experiences an extreme weather event, how much are you and your family at risk? A new dashboard from the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at the University of Connecticut aims to help answer that question, down to your street. In the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), researchers at CIRCA developed an equation to estimate how areas of the state could be impacted by extreme weather, like severe storms or high heat. The equation combines the physical characteristics of an area with the type of population or services that could be affected and factors in any community resilience or other adaptive assets it has.

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Fallout from climate change in CT: Focus moves to inland towns that will be hit hard

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Story by Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant

The consequences of climate change are easy to understand along Connecticut’s coastline where the sea is now forecast to rise 20 inches by 2050.

But researchers at the University of Connecticut also are now turning their attention to inland Connecticut and places that are not anywhere near the coast or even a large waterway such as the Connecticut River.

Scientists at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation are examining how more sudden, intense rainstorms are overwhelming decades-old drainage systems, leading to more frequent flooding.

“We’re seeing more of these high-intensity rain events, and then, the water is just coming down faster than it can drain away,” Mary Buchanan, a community resilience planner at CIRCA, said. “You don’t have to be anywhere near the coast to be experiencing climate change.”

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Devastating flood highlights need for climate resiliency

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

By Mike Savino • Published August 20, 2024 • Updated on August 20, 2024 at 5:04 pm

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In a summer of severe flooding in New England, a 1,000-year storm hit Connecticut. Here’s how.

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

The weather models didn’t see it coming. But “training” storms and an already primed atmosphere converged to deliver a surge of devastating rainfall.

By Chris Gloninger and Erin Douglas Globe Staff, Updated August 21, 2024,11:08 a.m.

On Aug. 19, 1955, the unimaginable happened.

A downgraded hurricane named Diane blasted the small rural town of Burlington, Conn., with a record 12-plus inches of rain and left 77 people dead statewide. Residents thought they had seen the worst of Mother Nature.

Then came this past Sunday, 69 years later to the day. And this time southwestern Connecticut felt the blow not from a hurricane and its the driving rain and slashing winds but from a storm so strong and so unusual in its ferocity that scientists categorized it as a historic, “1-in-1,000-year storm.” It broke Diane’s rainfall record by several inches.

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How can Connecticut prepare for a 1,000-year flood? It can’t, but strategy is changing

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In the Media

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Flood and Sea Level Rise

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Applies to Multiple Towns

By Jordan Nathaniel Fenster, Staff writer Aug 21, 2024

https://www.ctinsider.com/

Sunday's storms have been described in many ways: a rain bomb, training storms, flash floods.

And then there is 1,000-year flood.

The devastating storm that flooded parts of Connecticut and swept away roads was far more than infrastructure could handle. Twelve-plus inches of rain fell in a short period, or three months worth of rain for the state.

But what exactly is a 1,000-year flood? No, it's not a flood that happens once only every 1,000 years, but instead a flood that has a one in 1,000 chance of happening in any given year, as the U.S. Geological Survey explained. That calculation — how often flooding events are likely to happen, is part of how flood risk maps are derived.

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Summer heat smashed records a CT city study seeks out neighborhoods suffering the most

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In the Media

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Heat

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Hartford Courant Summer heat smashed records a CT city study seeks out neighborhoods suffering the most

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Opinion: Protecting Connecticut workers from heat is a hot topic

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In the Media

Focus Area:

Heat

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Applies to Multiple Towns

Applies to Multiple Towns

Climate Change Vulnerability Index
CCVI Flood Viewer
CCVI Extreme Heat Viewer
Zones of Shared Risk Viewer
Connecticut Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Viewer
Connecticut Coastal Towns Storm Annual Exceedance Probability/Return Interval Viewer

Regional Workshop – CCVI & ZSR – NVCOG Presentation Recording

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Presentations

Focus Area:

Planning

Applies to Multiple Towns

CIRCA interview that discusses how global climate crisis is impacting Connecticut.

By James Szkobel-Wolff,

Zshekinah Collier, Catie Talarski, Khalilah Brown-Dean

Published June 16, 2021

After years of warning from scientists, the global climate crisis is impacting Americans across the country. This year, we’ve already seen unprecedented ice storms across Texas and one of the worst droughts in modern history in the west. But what kind of changes can we expect in Connecticut? This hour on Disrupted, we dig into the ways our changing climate is affecting our state. GUESTS:

Kirby C. Stafford, Chief Entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)
Jim O’Donnell, Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut and Executive Director of Connecticut Institute of Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
J.D. Allen, Assistant news director and reporter for WSHU

Infographics and Fact Sheets

Focus Area:

Planning

Applies to Multiple Towns

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Transit Oriented Development for a more Resilient CT Presentation Recoding

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Presentations

Focus Area:

Planning

Go to Resource

New Planning and Visualization Tools for Sea Level Rise Webinar Video

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Presentations

Focus Area:

Flood and Sea Level Rise

Applies to Multiple Towns

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Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework

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Publications and Reports

Focus Area:

Planning

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Applies to Multiple Towns

During Phase I of the project, the CIRCA team engaged a broad range of stakeholders on the development of a Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework. This Framework will guide the plans, projects, and research activities initiated during Phases II and III and will build on the range of ongoing climate adaptation activities occurring in the state. The Framework will connect science-based risk assessment with innovative design strategies and apply them to practical planning practices. The RCPF will introduce a variety of applied tools and methodologies intended to influence Connecticut's resilience planning moving forward, focusing on five themes.

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