RISE Resilience Innovations

We don't just fund ideas, we connect innovators with communities facing real flooding challenges. Together, they test and refine solutions based on feedback, and scale what works. Since 2018, RISE has delivered measurable impact:

💰 $10M+ in funding for innovators
🚀 45+ pilot projects in real-world conditions
🌍 400+ submissions from 30 countries
💵 $50M+ in follow-on investment
👥 425+ trained in climate resiliency
💼 200+ jobs created or retained

Real-world challenges require real-life solutions. Learn more about our impact: https://brnw.ch/21x34vP

When it comes to flooding, being prepared is key. Forecasters predict an 82% chance of a strong El Niño this year, which increases the likelihood of widespread flooding across the U.S. Read more: https://brnw.ch/21x2ULd

Be prepared for:
🌊 West Coast: Higher tides and stronger surf
🌊 Gulf & Southeast: Heavy rainfall from El Niño storms

NOAA warns: "Coastal communities face more frequent, deeper, and widespread high tide flooding." At RISE, we connect communities with innovators piloting climate resilience solutions that help strengthen preparedness and long-term resilience.

El Niño could bring high-tide flooding to parts of US Forecasters are predicting an 82% chance El Niño will emerge between May and July.

We are connection builders. We don't just fund ideas, we create pathways for real-world testing and community partnerships. When innovators work directly with affected communities, innovation meets impact. 🌊

Learn more about the progress RISE and FloodMapp are making together: https://brnw.ch/21x2KfO

We’re excited to welcome Matt Wells to the Board of Directors at RISE!

With more than 20 years of leadership experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Matt brings deep expertise in resilience, floodplain management, economic development, and legislative strategy. As former Director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, he helped lead major statewide resilience initiatives and oversaw hundreds of millions in flood resilience funding for communities across the Commonwealth.

Matt’s collaborative leadership style and extensive experience navigating complex policy and infrastructure challenges will be an incredible asset as RISE continues advancing resilience innovation and implementation throughout Virginia and beyond.

Please join us in welcoming Matt!

We're proud to announce the Finalists of the Blue Ridge Regional Resilience Challenge:

Shepherd. AI by ParaWave
Lighthouse™ by Mērak Labs
FloodMapp
Impact Circle by Zero Circle

These innovators are advancing scalable community-centered solutions that strengthen resilience before, during, and after disasters.

RISE Resilience Innovations

A new study shows 16.7% of the U.S. coastal population lives in very high flood-risk zones that cover just 1.1% of land. By 2050, an additional 500-600 square miles of urban coastal area could face high-tide flooding, putting $28-85 billion in property at risk.

Most at-risk cities:
🌊 New York: 4.75 million residents exposed
🌊 New Orleans: 99% of population in flood-prone areas
🌊 Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami, Mobile & Houston

The solution? Researchers emphasize combining green infrastructure, wetland restoration, and flood barriers with modernized early warning systems.

We're finding, funding, and helping to scale the next wave of flood resilience innovators.

Read more:

New York and New Orleans among most flood-prone U.S. cities, new study shows Flood risk along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts affects a disproportionate share of the population, with 16.7% living in very high-risk zones that cover just 1.1% of land, according to a new study.

It's National Hurricane Preparedness Week, a reminder to prepare for hurricane season. This week, take a few moments to:

🌀 Check your emergency supplies
🌀 Talk to your neighbors
🌀 Know your evacuation routes
🌀 Prepare your home and property

At RISE, we work year-round to help flood-prone communities increase their flood resilience. Preparedness starts at home with every resident, every household, every year. Whether you're in a coastal or river community, hurricanes bring storm surge, flooding, and widespread impacts. Don't wait until a storm is approaching!

to Climate & Environmental Data Day during DC Climate Week! Our Deputy Executive Director Betsy Hnath discussed the gap between climate data collection and community feedback and usability.

The reality: Having data isn't enough. Emergency managers, first responders, and planners need tools that maximize accuracy and efficiency for small teams in high-stakes conditions.

At RISE, we validate solutions that deliver actionable insights when communities need them most.

We're grateful for the conversation and partners working to close the gap between data and action.

Shoutout to RISE Alumni FloodMapp, presenting at the Floodplain Management Australia Conference! 🌊 FloodMapp's impact-based flood intelligence helps teams understand what's actually at risk, where, when, and how severely. This is exactly the kind of real-world solution RISE supports.

RISE solution builders work around the world, harnessing innovations tested during our challenges to improve preparedness, response, and recovery in flood-prone communities.

Great to be on the ground at the Floodplain Management Australia Conference last week.

Juliette Murphy shared how operational, impact-based flood intelligence is helping teams move beyond broad warnings to understand what’s actually at risk, where, when, and how severely.

It was also great to have AmirAhmad Dehghani and Bruce Eady there, connecting with attendees and contributing to conversations around how these approaches are being applied in practice.

A big thank you to everyone who joined the session and stopped by to chat; always valuable to hear how different regions are thinking about flood preparedness, response, and recovery.