Increasing Virginia's Resilience to Sea Level Rise and Natural Hazards

Common Wealth of Virginia
Posted on: 6/16/2019 - Updated on: 2/28/2020

Posted by

CAKE Team

Published

Abstract

Sea level rise, land subsidence, higher average temperatures, more frequent and intense weather events, severe drought, and increased development, have increased risk and will continue to increase and exacerbate risk from natural hazards across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The number of federally declared disasters has steadily increased nationally and in Virginia. The number has experienced a 250 percent increase in federally declared disasters over the past 20 years, including declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and wildfire.

This document outlines actions to increase statewide resilience to natural hazards and extreme weather by virtue of the authority vested in the Chief Executive by Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth.