Avoid Penny-wise, Pound-foolish Approach to Resiliency

May 16th, 2013 by Chris Sturm

The billions of dollars funneled into Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts — including the $1.83 billion recently made available by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan — are a human and humane response to the urgent needs of tens of thousands of people.

They also can be considered a down payment on the past; that is, they’re intended to help homeowners, renters and businesses put back what was in place before the superstorm made landfall.

Preparing for the future is not complicated, but it’s also not sexy or exciting. But now that those short-term funds and programs are in place, it’s time to look forward.

How can we translate our heightened awareness of risk into tangible, practical steps that will make our communities stronger and safer? How can we ensure that the remaining billions in federal rebuilding funds enable a fundamental, longer-term shift in state and local government decision-making?

Read the full article on NJ Spotlight.

Posted in Climate Change and Energy, Environment and Agriculture, Local Planning, Planning and Governance, Rebuilding A Resilient Shore, Regional Planning

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