Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publication Date
1 February 2025

Comparing Extreme Rainfall Exposure to Climate-Focused Planning Efforts

Print / PDF
Powerpoint Slide
Science

To better understand what attributes have led some communities to address climate-related planning imperatives but not others, this study assesses whether municipalities along the United States Atlantic coast are more likely to have climate-focused plans in place if the municipality has previous experience with extreme precipitation events.

Impact
  • Of 461 municipalities studied, only 18% had a standalone climate plan.
  • Coastal communities seem to engage in more climate-focused planning.
  • Coastal places show positive relationships between extreme rainfall and climate planning.
  • Riverine communities exhibit negative relationships between extreme rainfall and climate planning.
Summary

Extreme precipitation is evaluated as a motivator for climate planning due to its high visibility, role in flooding events, association with tropical cyclones, and expected changes as global temperatures increase.

Point of Contact
Kevin Reed
Institution(s)
Stony Brook University
Funding Program Area(s)
Publication