Level Up Audio Project

Find out how Clark County, Nevada, took a first step to reduce its risk to earthquakes by making a log of unreinforced masonry buildings.  

• The Natural Hazard Retrofit Program Toolkit (2021) 
• Clark County URM Database Report (2015)  
• FEMA P-774: Unreinforced Masonry Buildings and Earthquakes- Developing Successful Risk Reduction Programs (2009) 
• FEMA P-154: Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards (2015) 

See how Woodland, California built up its water source portfolio to protect against the growing impacts of drought.  

• Woodland Davis Clean Water Agency 
• EPA: Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness tool (CREAT)  
• Adaptation Clearinghouse

Hear how Kaua’i, Hawai’i, made forward-looking policy that protects people and property from coastal erosion and sea level rise.  

• Kaua'i Shoreline Setback Ordinance (No. 863, Bill 2266, 2008) 
• Adapting Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion Hawaii 
• Managed Retreat Toolkit

Learn how Oakland, California worked with its residents to make a Climate Action Plan. 

• City of Oakland 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan 
• Racial Equity Impact Analysis Worksheet
• Inclusive Public Engagement Planning Guide
• Racial Equity Impact Assessment & Implementation Guide 
• OakDOT Geographic Equity Toolbox 

Learn how the Morongo Band of Mission Indians worked with nearby jurisdictions and tribes to build strength against natural disasters. 

• Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan – Morongo Band of Mission Indians (2017) 
• Morongo Band of Mission Indians: History & Preservation 

Discover how practitioners can encourage mitigation action by understanding how our minds tick.

Episode Notes:

Availability Heuristic: If a threat has never happened or happened too long ago, people will discount it. We believe what comes to mind most readily that we were impacted by. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0010028573900339

Optimism Bias: We overestimate our chances of winning and of avoiding natural disasters. This mentality leads to inaction or even a disbelief that they are at risk. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-28087-001

Confirmation Bias: We accept only evidence that confirms our current beliefs. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-05421-001

Status Quo Bias: We prefer to keep existing conditions, even when an alternative option might be better. The longer a condition exists, the more ingrained it becomes. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/rzeckhauser/files/status_quo_bias_in_decision_making.pdf

Chunking: Breaking larger actions or plans into smaller tasks make it easier to complete and the overall process less overwhelming, making action easier to achieve. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004592

Georgetown Climate Center: www.georgetownclimate.org

Journey to Hilo and Honolulu to learn how two practitioners are using storytelling and local knowledge to communicate tsunami risk to communities.

Episode Notes:

Pacific Tsunami Museum: http://tsunami.org/

Honolulu’s Tsunami Evacuation Mapping Project: http://www.honolulu.gov/site-dem-sitearticles/35781-tsunami.html

The following subject matter experts supported the Honolulu’s Tsunami Evacuation Mapping Project: Dr. Kwock Fai Cheung, Dr. Rhett Butler, Dr. Daniel Walker, Dr. Gerard Fryer, Hawaii Earthquake and Tsunami Advisory Committee (HETAC), Atkins North America, Inc. (Group 70, Martin & Chock, Solutions Pacific and UH Sea Grant College Program), and Tetra Tech

Learn more about tsunami early warning signs: http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1648&Itemid=2690

Georgetown Climate Center: www.georgetownclimate.org

Explore how federal, state, and local agencies are working together to reduce flooding and restore habitat for endangered fish in northern California.

Episode Notes:

Martin Slough Enhancement Project: http://www.naturalresourcesservices.org/projects/martin-slough-enhancement-project

Georgetown Climate Center: www.georgetownclimate.org

The following agencies provided grant funding for the Martin Slough Enhancement Project:

• California State Coastal Conservancy
• California Department of Water Resources
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• California State Water Resources Control Board
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Habitat Conservation Restoration Center
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• The Ocean Protection Council
• The California Natural Resource Agency – Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program

Learn how the city is working to alleviate high temperatures by engaging communities in planning a shade-boosting bicycle and pedestrian streetscape project.

Episode Notes:

Alameda Drive Project: https://www.tempe.gov/government/engineering-and-transportation/transportation/streetscape-projects/alameda-drive

Tempe Urban Forestry Master Plan: https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-services/parks/urban-forest/urban-forest-master-plan

Tempe Climate Action Plan: https://www.tempe.gov/government/sustainable-tempe/climate-action-plan

Tempe Transportation Master Plan: https://www.tempe.gov/home/showdocument?id=30317

Georgetown Climate Center: www.georgetownclimate.org

Georgetown Climate Center Green Infrastructure Toolkit: https://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/toolkits/green-infrastructure-toolkit/introduction.html

Georgetown Climate Center Preparing for Urban Heat: https://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/urban-heat.html

Georgetown Climate Center Adapting to Urban Heat: A Toolkit for Local Governments: https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/adapting-to-urban-heat-a-tool-kit-for-local-governments.html

Sustainable Cities Network: https://sustainability.asu.edu/sustainable-cities/

In Butte County, California, much of the natural fuel that allows wildfires to spread is found on private property. Communities must approve, and landowners need to agree, to remove brush from these lands and reduce wildfire risk. This is not unusual—many types of mitigation work involve private property! In this episode, Calli-Jane DeAnda from the Butte County Fire Safe Council speaks about her experience with community outreach and protecting communities and infrastructure from wildfire.