Success Stories

View case studies on how leaders in North Carolina and beyond are building community and ecosystem resilience. To filter the results, select the categories you are interested in and scroll down to select "Apply." Submit your resilience success story.

19 results found
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Hazards
Debris from large rockslide blocking westbound lanes on Interstate 40 in Buncombe County, NC. (Source: NCGS)

Asheville makes a plan for climate resilience

Last Updated: April 24, 2024
 

Asheville, N.C., used the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit’s Steps to Resilience framework to host a series of planning workshops. Residents and local leaders identified the city’s primary hazards, located the physical assets most vulnerable to those hazards and investigated response and preparedness options.


Success Story Details

Green space in Asheville’s River Arts District. (Source: Andrea Webster/NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency)

Asheville transportation project integrates green infrastructure to manage flooding

Published: March 1, 2024
 

The River Arts District in Asheville, N.C., was vulnerable to flooding due to its location within the floodplains of both the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. The City of Asheville used the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project to reinvigorate the area and manage flooding on-site.


Success Story Details

Pre-cleanup photo of old Sibley Mill, federally designated as a brownfield due to industrial contamination. Source: EPA

Augusta, Ga., brownfield cleanup

Last Updated: April 9, 2024
 

The Augusta Canal Authority analyzed the climate vulnerability of a brownfield redevelopment as part of an EPA checklist. The site is vulnerable to more frequent and intense flooding, which can impact the mobility of contaminated material left onsite. Based on findings, the landowner removed contaminated soils rather than capping them.


Success Story Details

The elevation of mobile homes in Brevard, N.C., to come into compliance with the updated Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. (Source: Brad Burton)

Brevard manages flood risk with a “No Adverse Impact” development standard

Published: March 1, 2024
 

Brevard’s City Council updated the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance after two hurricanes caused immense damage. The new ordinance requires that proposed developments not increase risk to residents or properties downstream.


Success Story Details

An aerial view of the Hidden Valley Community where Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services purchased eight homes through the local floodplain buyout program. (Source: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg region runs local floodplain buyouts program

Published: March 1, 2024
 

Local governments in the Charlotte, N.C. region established a merged city-county stormwater utility. The merged utility reduced flood risk in the region using floodplain buyouts.


Success Story Details