RISE Resilience Innovations

🌊 Rivers sustain us. They also flood. And when they do, communities can face widespread problems.

RISE has expanded our commitment to riverine communities across Virginia's Blue Ridge region, funding innovations in flood monitoring, early warning systems, and sustainable finance to help communities live safely alongside rivers.

Learn more about RISE Solution Builders: https://ow.ly/czfU50ZUIum

Tidal flooding and strong winds are once again impacting communities across Hampton Roads, highlighting the challenges our region continues to face from coastal flooding.

At RISE, we support innovators developing real-world solutions to help communities better prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding and other climate-related challenges. Events like these reinforce why building resilience today is so important for our region’s future.

Read more about the conditions impacting Hampton Roads!

Blog: Tidal flooding and strong winds continue Yesterday was rough in some places. There were numerous wind gusts to over 35mph and a few over 40mph. However, the worst problem that the area had was tidal flooding. We had minor to moderate tida…

This month, prepare your family. Then ask your community: What flood resilience tools are you implementing? 🌊 During National Preparedness Month, FEMA's Ready Campaign encourages families to take four simple steps: make a plan, build a kit, stay informed, and get involved.

For flood-prone communities, this means knowing your evacuation routes, having emergency supplies for 72 hours, signing up for flood alerts, and supporting community preparedness efforts.

But personal preparation is only part of the solution. Communities also need flood forecasting, early warning systems, and emergency response tools. RISE funds the innovative technologies that help communities respond faster to floods and extreme weather. Learn more about RISE: https://ow.ly/AP6y50ZQeH2

Real resilience requires both: your household prepared and your community equipped with smart flood resilience tools.

Introducing The RISE Alumni Network, a new landing page celebrating and connecting our growing community of innovators transforming flood resilience.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾28+ alumni organizations
🌊 45+ pilot projects deployed

Our alumni aren't just past winners. They're actively advancing flood resilience right now. From Virginia communities to regions across the country, these innovators are testing solutions, learning from communities, and scaling what works.

Explore the alumni network: https://ow.ly/fzUa50ZQez9

Representing RISE, Paul Robinson and Betsy Hnath are heading back to Climate Week NYC to connect with leaders, exchange ideas and explore what’s next in climate innovation and resilience.

As one of the world’s largest climate events, Climate Week NYC brings together experts and organizations from across sectors for conversations around sustainability, emerging solutions and meaningful climate action.

Learn more here: https://ow.ly/AseH50ZOkZR

September is National Preparedness Month 🌊 and a great time to conduct a disaster readiness review!

✅ Make a plan. Know where to go, what to do, and what you'll need to bring
✅ Be in the know. Sign up for community warning systems
✅ Build a kit. Start gathering emergency supplies now

In addition to encouraging individual preparedness, Virginia is stepping up with the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan, building statewide resilience infrastructure, coordinated warning systems, and resources to support communities. Read more:

Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Staunton, Virginia, just adopted its first Flood Resilience Plan, marking an important step toward a more resilient future and opening the door to state and federal funding for infrastructure improvements. Read more: https://ow.ly/gjms50ZMNum

What stands out is how the plan was developed. Nearly a year of community engagement, including public surveys and listening sessions, helped ensure residents’ experiences and concerns informed Staunton’s priorities.

That community-driven approach is an important part of building effective resilience solutions. Communities understand their challenges firsthand, and pairing that local insight with the right tools and technologies can help turn resilience plans into action.

That’s where RISE comes in. We fund real-world pilots for small businesses developing innovative solutions that help communities like Staunton address real resilience needs and put their plans into practice. Learn more about our solutions: https://ow.ly/48JW50ZMNur

Staunton: City adopts Flood Resilience Plan, opening up state, federal grants Staunton took a big step last week to set the course for the work that needs to be done to limit the impact of future flooding.

Scientists and practitioners are pointing out an important problem: while coastal marsh models are technically advanced, they often don't provide the specific information communities actually need for on-the-ground decisions.

Scientists produce high-resolution models, but decision-makers need parcel-scale data for local planning. There's a "scale mismatch" between what models output and what practitioners need to restore marshes, plan for uncertainty, and protect critical habitat. Reach more: https://brnw.ch/21x3Pz7

This is exactly why RISE works with Solution Builders. We don't just fund innovations in isolation — we connect entrepreneurs directly with flood-prone communities to test solutions, get feedback, and refine what works in real conditions.

Identifying Gaps in Coastal Marsh Models for Decision-Making - NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Scientists with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and partners have identified key opportunities for better translating coastal marsh model findings into actionable results for restoration and conservation decision-making. Coastal salt marshes provide critical ecosystem ser...

The climate migration crisis: people are leaving flood-prone communities. New data shows flood-prone U.S. counties lost residents at nearly twice last year's rate in 2025. High-flood-risk areas posted a net outflow of 63,357 people, while low-flood-risk counties gained 69,857.

Why people are leaving:
💰 Rising insurance costs
🌊 Difficulty renewing flood coverage
🏠 Rising HOA fees in disaster-prone communities

As people leave, the remaining residents are sometimes those who can't afford to relocate. Private insurers are retreating, leaving state insurers overwhelmed. Read more: https://brnw.ch/21x3M8Y

Communities don't have to lose residents to flooding. With the right resilience tools, early warning systems, and adaptation strategies, communities can protect people and property.

Flood-prone US counties lose residents at nearly twice last year's rate The $1.58 trillion in uninsured flood losses since 2000 tells insurers exactly what happens when the people left behind can't afford to leave

♻️ 100,000 tons of concrete from the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion will get a second life beneath the Chesapeake Bay.

Instead of heading to landfills, dismantled materials from the project will be used to support Virginia’s artificial reef program. This will help create structure for marine life, strengthen habitats, and show how infrastructure projects can deliver environmental benefits beyond their original purpose.

Read the full article here:

100,000 tons of rubble from HRBT expansion will go onto artificial reefs in the Chesapeake Bay Dismantled materials are loaded onto a barge and lowered onto the bay floor several miles offshore.