DV-20-03 Linking ecological and social resilience in coastal communities

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

June 11, 2020

Eileen Sylvan Johnson

Built along the edge of the state, where the land meets the sea, Maine’s coastal communities are uniquely connected to and impacted by the ocean. As extreme weather events, sea level rise, flooding, and storm surges become more severe and push further inland, Maine’s coastal communities experience greater risk and a greater need for resilient physical and social infrastructure. For example, Sagadahoc County is heavily impacted by flooding. A 2019 focus group study in the region identified damage to transportation systems, ease of access to evacuation routes, distance to hospital and shelters, and a reliance on volunteer-based emergency services as key areas of concern for geographically isolated and rural areas.

To better understand community resilience in the Sagadahoc region, investigators will develop a scenario planning exercise that identifies strengths and weaknesses of the current social infrastructure. An undergraduate student, supported by program development funding, will help develop the program and associated products and tools. Lessons learned from the exercise will help inform policy recommendations for hazard mitigation plans. The goal is to increase cross-sector planning (municipal, emergency management, social service agencies, conservation organizations) and create an exercise that can be used by other coastal regions.

Sea Grant Funds $4000