Overview

The Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) network, formerly known as the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program, comprises regional teams who conduct collaborative research on weather and climate-related issues of concern to decision makers and community planners at state and local levels. CAP is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program Office. The functions of the NOAA Climate Program Office, including the NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships program, are directed by the National Climate Program Act (15 U.S. Code § 2904) and annual Appropriations Acts.

Communities and local decision makers regularly deal with multiple complex hazards, such as flooding, extreme heat, water shortages, wildfires, and extreme weather events. They rely on regional CAP teams to better understand, plan for, and respond to these events, which directly impact the health, housing, safety, business development, and wealth of their communities. CAP teams work in thirteen regions across the United States to address local needs by providing relevant scientific expertise and resources. These teams partner with multiple private and public sector organizations across their regions including local government agencies such as emergency management departments, utilities, ports, small and medium-sized businesses, rural town and city planners, regional councils of government, among others. Read more about the regional CAP teams and the impact of their work.

Explore their Storymap

Current CAP Teams

• Alaska CAP | Program Manager: Alison Hayden, [email protected]
• Carolinas CAP | Program Manager: Haven Cashwell, [email protected]
• Central Midwest CAP: NEW | Program Manager: Sarah Helmer, [email protected]
• Great Lakes CAP | Program Manager: Jenna Jorns, [email protected]
• Intermountain West CAP | Program Manager: Benet Duncan, [email protected]
• Mid-Atlantic CAP | Program Manager: Lena Easton-Calabria, [email protected]
• Pacific Islands CAP | Program Manager: Krista Jaspers,  [email protected]
• Pacific Northwest CAP | Program Manager: Zack Thill, [email protected]
• South Central CAP | Program Manager: Caylah Cruickshank, [email protected]
• Southwest CAP | Program Manager: Stacie Reece, [email protected]
• Urban Northeast CAP | Program Manager: Dan Bader, [email protected]
• US Caribbean CAP | Program Manager: Manuel Heredia Morales, [email protected]
• West CAP | Program Manager: Ariel Choinard, [email protected]

CAP/RISA Videos (Coming soon!)

• NOAA RISA's CCRUN Team: Responding to the risk of extreme heat on vulnerable populations
• NOAA RISA’s CIRC Team: Scientists and farmers make better decisions together
• NOAA RISA’s CISA Team: Climate-smart communities make better investments
• NOAA RISA’s CLIMAS Team: Science Clears the Air in Dust Storm Response
• NOAA RISA’s SCIPP Team: A better-informed public is a safer public