Resilient Arlington, a local project of Resilient Virginia, is working with area businesses and community representatives from Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, Sierra Club, Arlington Green, as well as numerous community volunteers. We also have engaged the participation of Arlington County Office of Emergency Management.
Our goal is to build awareness of the need for local resiliency planning and embark on resiliency-building activities to strengthen our community’s ability to anticipate and bounce back from climate-related and man-made challenges.
- In the short term this may take the shape of more robust preparations for a return to normal household, business and community functions after extreme climate events or urban disturbances such as water line breaks, Metro breakdowns, or national security incidents.
- For the long term, community resiliency planning provides the ability to adapt and thrive despite changing environmental, social and economic conditions. These challenges, exacerbated by climate change, will compel communities to rethink how they build their homes and commercial buildings, plan and build infrastructure, generate energy, produce food, and provide goods and services in their community or region.
Resilient Arlington’s first community event was held September 26, 2015 as part of the annual neighborhood celebration called Clarendon Day. Our tents featured the theme — BE READY! — in conjunction with Virginia Emergency Preparedness Month. We focused on four essentials — food availability, drinking water safety, using less energy and generating your own, and transportation options. Pictures from the event can be seen below.
Future activities, including a speaker series and a spring event, are being planned now and we invite your participation. Contact: Annette Osso, LEED AP, Managing Director, Resilient Virginia, osso@resilientvirginia.org, 703-629-1650.
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