Abstract

Coastal resilience is the ability to resist, absorb, recover from, and adapt to coastal hazards such as daily  inundation caused by sea level rise, increased flooding, and more frequent and intense storm surges. The residents of Guilford recognized the risks associated with occupying coastal areas prior to Tropical Storm Irene and storm Sandy, but these recent events have underscored the fact that property owners and the town bear a heavy financial burden to recover from these types of events. The Town of Guildford has developed this Community Coastal Resilience Plan as a toolbox to build coastal resilience in the coming years.