ERG Supports Comprehensive Update of Massachusetts ResilientMass Plan

When the Massachusetts State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan was due for a 5-year update—as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—ERG supported the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in this undertaking, working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Because much had changed since 2019, ERG’s support for the Commonwealth included updating all information in the plan and expanding information for many key topic areas, such as human health, environmental justice and equity, critical infrastructure, and natural resources. ERG also integrated new data and information for identifying the highest-priority climate change impacts in Massachusetts; incorporated environmental justice and equity throughout the plan; added data and mapping for environmental justice and other priority populations; integrated new census data; and responded to new FEMA guidance for state hazard mitigation plans. ERG collaborated extensively with MEMA and EEA throughout the process, held a series of working sessions with state agencies, and held drop-in office hours between meetings so that representatives of state agencies could stop by to get questions answered throughout the process. ERG also led engagement with community groups and interested parties in a community meeting series to obtain input on draft state agency actions and through focus groups. The final plan and executive summary were used to launch the ResilientMass Plan, Massachusetts’ climate and hazard program, which focuses on a sustainable “whole-of-community” approach to climate resilience and hazard risk reduction.