When Hazards and Climate Collide: Integrating Climate Resilience and Hazard Mitigation Planning to Address Federal and State Mandates While Advancing Community Capacity

Session 5A | Thursday | 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM (PT)

This session will shine a light on a planning process that integrates hazard mitigation planning with the development of a Climate Resilience Sub-Element, so that jurisdictions can achieve Federal and State mandates through one joint effort.  Aligning hazard mitigation planning with the climate element for the comprehensive plan can save jurisdictions time and money while maximizing community capacity building. Planning alignment leads to broader community engagement, better cross-department and sector integration, and improved plan implementation.  Through this session, attendees will get a better understanding of Federal and State requirements for integrating climate change with hazard and community planning and a successful approach to developing a hazard mitigation plan at the same time as developing a Climate Resilience Sub-Element for a Comprehensive Plan.

Noelle Ann Anderson

Project Manager/Associate, Michael Baker International

Ms. Anderson provides hazard mitigation and vulnerability analysis services for clients across the western United States at Michael Baker International. Her experience includes both local and multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plans in compliance with FEMA guidelines. Her skill set includes identifying community hazards, evaluating past mitigation measures to develop future mitigation policies, plan implementation and maintenance. Much of her project experience is within the coastal zone, with a unique familiarity with sea level rise planning policy. She is also experienced in developing hazard-focused and resiliency-based community engagement programs and is IAP2 Foundations trained. Ms. Andersons's additional experience in public policy planning documents bolsters her hazard planning services, such as general plan updates (safety elements) and specific plans. She holds an Executive Master of Urban Planning from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Mary Ann Rozance, PHD

Mary Ann is a Senior Associate with Cascadia Consulting Group where she works directly with communities to support their climate action and resilience planning goals. Mary Ann's expertise sits at the nexus of climate policy, resilience, and community co-development. She has supported climate and sustainability-related projects across many contexts, including with the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Puget Sound Partnership, the North Olympic Development Council, and others. Prior to joining Cascadia, Mary Ann was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington and a National Science Foundation Fellow at Portland State University. Mary Ann holds a PhD in Urban Studies from Portland State University, M.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington & a B.S. in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia.

Karen Affeld, Executive Director

North Olympic Development Council

Karen Affeld has more than 25 years of experience in rural development, fundraising and non-profit administration in natural resource based communities. Having worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, she brings a diverse skill set to projects where common ground can be difficult to identify. She specializes in collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects and rural economic and community development. When not meeting with partners or writing grant proposals, she enjoys spending time with her horses and dogs and exploring the Olympic Peninsula. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Tim Havel, Planner

Clallam County Department of Community Development

Tim is a Long-Range Planner and the Comprehensive Plan Update lead for Clallam County.  He brings a unique perspective to the GMA update process with his experience in project management and process improvement, coupled with his Code Enforcement and Logistics background.  He uses this diverse background to better understand the intersection of critical areas, land use policy, and public engagement.

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