The document discusses the key facets of developing a community resilience system: organization, assessment, and planning. It outlines that the system should utilize existing community mechanisms to achieve collectively developed goals that reflect unique local threats. Action plans need to focus on continuous improvement even before disasters. Finally, the document notes that development of the resilience system is currently underway through several working groups, with plans to pilot and refine the system in initial communities over the next few years.

1. Bases for a Community
Resilience System
M. J. Plodinec
December, 2010
www.ResilientUS.or
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2. Community “ecosystem”

3. Community resilience
The ability of a community to anticipate risk,
limit impact, and recover rapidly through
adaptation, evolution, and growth in the face
of turbulent change.

4. Our communities are beleaguered
• Growing complexity
• Accelerating rate of change
• New spectrum of threats
• Great Recession
• Unrealistic expectations

5. Community Resilience System

6. Key Facets of
Community Resilience System
• Organization: community should use existing
action mechanisms to achieve goals
developed across the entire community
• Assessment: goals must reflect the unique
identity of the community and the threats it
actually faces
• Planning: action plans should lead
community toward “building back better”
even before disaster strikes
• Action: community must always monitor
progress, and frequently re-evaluate direction

7. Path Forward
• Currently under development by four teams
• Community leaders working group
• Subject matter working group
• Resilient benefits group (federal gov’t, insurers,
bankers)
• CARRI staff
• Will complete initial version 2Q11
• Will pilot in first five communities 2011-13
• Anticipate second group will start ~mid-term
• “Users group” being formed