Upcoming Training for Kupuna and Older Age Adults
SignÊup:ÊÊhttps://events.aarp.org/manoa4-24
UH News Spotlight on Kaimuki Microgrid Project
Click HERE for Information or to access the full article.
CERENE February Newsletter!
Hot off the presses! CERENE’s February Newsletter/
Read all about it here: https://www.smore.com/app/pages/preview/1hr96
Mōʻiliʻili Community and Climate Resilience Hub Workshop
ʻĀina-Based Resilience”HUB” Talk Story and Mālama ʻĀina Day
Kaiāulu Webinar Series
Laha ʻĀina
For us all.
Let us intentionalize – kūkulukumuhana – together,
our process of healing…. ourselves and our ʻāina aloha.
Ku’una ka na’au.
The heart is relieved.
Manu Aluli Meyer
Konohiki – Kūlana o Kapolei
UH West Oahu
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Inez McPhee Ashdown on Laha-aina
….. Another thing I learned from the Hawaiians, particularly in the last years that I was a member of the Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club, was that you donʻt say “Lāhainā” to mean “cruel sun.” You combine “Laha” which is “prophecy,” and “ʻāina,” which is “land.” You say “Laha-aina,” and it means “land of prophecy.” It is a much nicer name than the one we give to the tourists along with the story that says an old chief was going up a hill and he complained, “Oh what a merciless sun: Lāhainā.” Donʻt say it that way. Say “Laha,” “Laha-aina.” Thatʻs what they taught me in the Hawaiian Civic Club…
As told to Kihei Desilva by Inez Ashdown at Kekūhaupiʻo Gym on the Kamehameha Schoolʻs Kapālama campus.
September 3, 1985. Inez was 85 at the time.
——————————————————-
From pilialoha, Pulama Collier, of Maui…
Laha ʻĀina
He laha ʻāina ko kākou e mahi ai
Our ancestral land is the source of our strength
A point between two infinities in-between two stories – old and new. We are changing and expanding in correlation with our land. The inevitability of growth is certain. Therefore, clarity in our understanding, along with the purpose and meaning of our people, land and values is necessary for our salvation. Whereas people and land are of one essence, the stability and health of the two parallel each other.
During these times, let us turn our hands downward and work on ourselves through our land.
A laha ka ʻāina laha ke kanaka. The breadth of opportunities in learning, living and loving our beloved land is expanding at a rapid pace presenting us with accelerated answers and divine repositioning. The extension of our intentions during these times will be reflected in all of these spaces.
E ola ko Hawaiʻi i ka ʻāina.
Strengthening the Capacity for Recovery with Place-based Community Resilience Hubs
By: Ramona Mullahey, Senior Management Analyst, Honolulu Field Office, Pacific HUD Region
The Center for Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE) located at Kapiʻolani Community College hosted the second Annual Hawaiʻi State Community Resilience Hubs Virtual Forum 2023 along with co-hosts Hawaiʻi State Energy Office (HSEO) and HUD Honolulu Field Office. With extreme weather appearing the norm and with El Niño conditions of warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures, the timely forum focused on sharing resources to inspire innovative design approaches for these place-based hubs.
Resilience hubs are trusted, neighborhood-based facilities which boost local capacity to better meet resident needs and to help prepare for and recover from disasters. Year-round hubs can provide a safe place and temporary relief during days of extreme heat or deploy resources and services., These hubs, designed by residents, are centers for community-building efforts to increase resilience when emergencies arise. Their success depends on a community’s ability to identify approaches which best meet its needs.
Forum presentations included: Michael Huff, Program Analyst at the Office of Field Policy and Management (FPM) at the San Francisco Regional Office and Jason Wilken, CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer on mobilizing a climate health approach to tangibly protect residents from inequitable health outcomes in the face of worsening, extreme weather.
FEMA Region IX Federal Disaster Recovery Officer Michelle Beasley provided a big picture view of post COVID-19 recovery and resilient success stories in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands. She highlighted Hawaiʻi’s Broadband Hui (Hawaiian word for partnership) as a prime example of a hyperlocal way of building collaboration and coordination to organize digital equity and community resilience. A subsequent talk-story session showcased the work on hubs taking place in communities and neighborhoods across the islands.
CERENE – an initiative at Kapiʻolani Community College – serves as a support hub at the center of community resilience work across Oʻahu, supporting community resilience at the neighborhood-level. Kapiʻolani Community College, a higher education HUD partner, received three (3) HUD Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program grants. The projects included: [1] Native Hawaiian Healing Center at a federally qualified healthcare center; [2] ʻOhana Learning Center at a public housing property, and [3] Kapahulu Learning and Outreach Center/Mindful Learning Center at Waikīkī Elementary School.
2nd Annual I HEART Kapiʻolani Community College
August 17, 2023 | 3:00pm to 7:00pm | FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Activities and Programs along the Makahiapo, Campus Great Lawn
Field Games | Health & Wellness | Academic Programs | Support and Counseling Programs | MANY MANY MORE!
Food
Hauoli Pastry (IG @ hauolipastry) | $5 Bento Box (IG @ 5bentobox) | Dominos Pizza (IG @ dominoshawaii)
Oly’s Kitchen
Library
Life Size Chess Board | Arts and Crafts | Interactive Games | Many MORE!
Bookstore
Get your Kapiʻolani CC Swag and Supplies from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
MUSIC BY KTUH – The ONLY Station that LOVES YOU!
Historical Timeline of Kapi’olani Community College
Designed by Mrs. Joyce Tokuda, Dr. Kelli Nakamura, and Dr. Youxin Zhang
Get connected with the Kapiʻolani Community College Alumni & Friends
Facebook | University of Hawaiʻi Alumni Association – Kapiʻolani | UH Connect
There are many ways to stay connected with the campus you love.
The KCCAFA Facebook page is a quick way to learn about events and news without having to create an account.
The Kapiʻolani CC page through the University of Hawaiʻi Alumni Association website provides you an opportunity to submit your contact information to receive updates.
UH Connect is a way to offer your expertise to other Kapiʻolani CC graduates and/or to our current Kapiʻolani CC students.
Choose one, two, or all three! Questions? Just reach out.
Interested in donating?
Please click on the following link to learn how the KCCAFA Funds are used. https://www.uhfoundation.org/kapccalumni
Questions?
Contact the Kapiʻolani Community College Alumni & Friends Association at kapalum@hawaii.edu or 808-734-9842
https://sites.google.com/hawaii.edu/2023-iheart-kapiolani-cc/home
Kaiāulu Resilience Webinar – Part IV Recording & Acknowledgements
Aloha mai Participants,
We would like to take this opportunity to share the webinar recording from June 28, 2023 “Climate Resilience Part 4” hosted by Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi of Kapi`olani Community College and moderated by Dr. Miku Lenentine, of Kapi`olani Community College. We would also like to mahalo the panel of speakers (listed below) who helped make the webinar a great success! Unfortunately, Mr. Toiya of DEM of the City and County of Honolulu was not able to join us but he was instrumental in contributing his expertise and knowledge to the topic. Also, mahalo to Dean Carol Hoshiko of Kapiʻolani Community College who also wasnʻt able to join us, but has been at the helm of the Kaiāulu Webinar Series since its inception in 2020. A special mahalo to Dr. Melissa Nakamura also of Kapiʻolani Community College who continues to help with the coordination and technical aspects for the webinar series.
Mahalo nui loa to the panel of speakers:
- Aviela Weltman, Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu
- John Cummings, Public Information and Education Officer, Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu
- Sarah Harris, Hazard Mitigation and Long-Term Disaster Recovery Program Manager, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, City and County of Honolulu
- Dr. Suwan Shen, Associate Professor, Urban and Regional Planning Department, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Please click on the links below and enjoy the webinar.
Recording: https://youtu.be/OC960wVjh5g Resources: https://go.hawaii.edu/yoL
In helping us improve the Kaiāulu Webinar Series, please fill out the webinar evaluation. We love reading your comments. Click on the link below.
Webinar Evaluation: http://go.hawaii.edu/AHg
If you would like to become a presenter of a future Kaiāulu Webinar Series, please contact program coordinator of the Kaiaulu Webinar Series Melissa Nakamura, mchar@hawaii.edu.
For Registration questions, contact Alissa L. Kashiwada,alissak@hawaii.edu
On behalf the Kapi`olani Community College, Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi, Dean Carol Hoshiko and the Kaiāulu Webinar Team we MAHALO YOU for your continued support. We hope you will join us for another Kaiāulu webinar in the near future!
ʻE mālama pono,
Kaiāulu Webinar Team
PS: If you would like to be added to our Kaiāulu Webinar Series email list, email kccocet@hawaii.edu.
Kaiāulu Resilience Webinar – Part IV
Community resilience talk featuring expertise and advice from the Department of Emergency Management (DEM)
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/2aq
For more information contact us:
kccocet@hawaii.edu
808-734-9211
Guest Speakers:
Hirokazu Toiya
Director, Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu
John Cummings
Public Information and Education Officer,Department of Emergency Management, Cityand County of Honolulu
Sarah Harris
Hazard Mitigation and Long-term Disaster Recovery Program Manager, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, City and County of Honolulu
Dr. Suwan Shen
Associate Professor, Urban and Regional Planning Department, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Dr. Miku Lenentine
Program Coordinator, Center for Resilient Neighborhoods, Kapiʻolani CC
Second Annual Hawai’i State Hubs Virtual Forum 2023
This event will be hosted virtually via zoom and will feature a guest speaker from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the FEMA Region IX Federal Disaster Recovery Officer. We will also have a talk-story opportunity highlighting work taking place across each of the neighbor islands, as well as open networking, Q&A and presentations from student leaders during the last hour. Please share broadly with partners and leaders in community resilience! All welcome to join. RSVP below for zoom link or access QR code.
10 am to 1 pm on July19, 2023.
RSVP for Zoom Link: https://go.hawaii.edu/xhl
Envisioning Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategies for Waikīkī, Part III
Join the virtual discussion on site-specific sea level rise adaptation strategies for a beachfront area in Waikīkī, Honolulu, featuring presentations, an expert panel, and audience input. AIA continuing education credit is available.
The event will last 1 hour and 30 minutes and include architectural renderings of potential future site-specific flood adaptation options, critique by an expert panel, and opportunities for audience participation. This is the third public presentation featuring a new beachfront study site in Waikīkī.
Date: Thursday, June 22, 12:00 PM–1:30 PM
Place: Virtual via Zoom, Please register HERE.
Registration: https://hawaii.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R-pxGZkDS8ex191NQcYBCQ
Project Website: https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/meguro-adapting-waikiki/
Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
With an elevated risk this season, now is the time to create a family plan, build a 14-day disaster supply kit, understand your risk, check insurance, and harden homes. For Oʻahu-specific resources, follow the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on social media, bookmark their hurricane page, and download the HNL Info app for alerts. Additional state and federal resources are available through the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, NOAA and Ready.gov. Being prepared before, during, and after a storm helps to keep your ʻohana and property safe and improves our collective community resilience in bouncing forward afterwards.
Copyright © 2023 Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website, you provided your email address during our outreach events, or you have indicated an interest in Oʻahu’s environment and sustainability efforts.
Our mailing address is:
Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
650 S King St, 11th floor Honolulu, HI96813
Wai’anae Regional Resilience Hub Workshop
Wai’anae Regional Community Resilience HUB Workshop
May 24th, Wednesday
5:30pm to 8:00pm
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/kp2
Community Partner: Aunty Nalani Benioni & Alicia Higa, Wai’anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center & ‘Elepaio Social Services
NDPTC Webinar Event
Please join us for this month’s NDPTC Third Thursday webinar series
on May 18th from 12 PM – 1 PM HST.
In May 2023’s edition of Third Thursday, we explore deeper the concept of Community Resilience Hubs. Community Resilience Hubs are community-led or operated physical spaces which support community resilience in emergency and non-emergency situations. Hear from Kapi’olani Community College’s Center for Resilient Neighborhoods and the City and County of Honolulu who are developing a Resilience Hub Action Plan for the island of O’ahu.
Please see the attached flyer for more information or register at
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAlc-yppzMoGdKMm6uHTvCnB8Qgx2lyPklF.
Please share this event with your networks.
O’ahu Zoom Resilience Hub Open House!
April 24th, Monday
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Register to receive zoom here: http://go.hawaii.edu/Jp2
Hosted by CERENE
Download Flyer to Share Below!
About the Event:
We will have several zoom rooms set up with ongoing activities, discussions and trainings. You can stay in the main room, or explore the breakout rooms at your leisure. Presentations and activities will repeat in each room approximately every 20 to 30 minutes unless specified otherwise).
Zoom Break Session Topics:
- Basic Overview of Action 15 Resilience Hubs Research Project (20 – 30 minutes)
- Preliminary Findings + Next Steps (20 minutes)
- Primary Urban Center Talkstory & Mini “Workshop” Session (1 hour session)
- Resilience Hubs Location Suitability Map Presentation & Q+A with Map Maker (20 minutes)
- Interactive Mapping Training (20 minutes)
- Student Presentations (20 minutes)
- Open networking rooms
Note: The Primary Urban Center talkstory session will included as part of a research study approved by the University of Hawaii. IRB:2022-00652. Study information can be found here: http://go.hawaii.edu/28C. Please direct all questions to cerene15@hawaii.edu.
You can learn more about the Action 15 Resilience HUB Project here: https://cerenehawaii.org/about-cerene/about-action-15/. Sign up to receive project updates and follow our work at: http://go.hawaii.edu/3Lx.
‘Ewa Regional Resilience Hub Workshop
April 25th, Tuesday
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Register to receive zoom link and learn more here: http://go.hawaii.edu/2p2
Hosted by CERENE
Download Flyer to Share Below!
Central O’ahu Regional Resilience Hub Workshop
April 27th, Thursday
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Register to receive zoom link here: http://go.hawaii.edu/Vp2
Hosted by CERENE
Download Flyer to Share Below!
Talk with Dr. Diana Reckien
March 31, 2023
When: Friday, March 31, 2023
Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: UHM Saunders Hall, Room 119 or virtually via Zoom. Limited seating.
Registration is required to attend.
When: Wednesdays, February 8, 2023 to April 26, 2023.
Time: 12 p.m. TO 1:15 p.m.
Where: Kuykendall Room 201 & on ZOOM
Registration: BIT.LY/ISR23
Western Region Continuums of Service Conference 2023 – Honolulu, Hawai’i
March 14 – 17, 2023
Click HERE to read more about this event.
Genki Ball Making with the Waikīkī Community Center
March 5, 2023
Malama Kapi’olani 2023 – Food Resilience supporting the KapCC Culinary Garden
March 2023
Weaving for resilience!
Intergenerational weaving of yarn leis for upcoming Continuums of Service Conference.
March 2023
AWR-228 Community Resilience Course
March 13th to 14th 2023
Register Here for this Free Community Training: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3277/
Participants will received a FEMA Certification in Community Resilience upon successful completion of the program. All welcome to attend! No prerequisites needed.
CERENE February Neighborhood News
Kaiāulu Resilience Webinar – Part III
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency will be leading a KCC CERENE online webinar, on “Sheltering in Place.” It will focus on what residents can do to assist themselves in preparing for any impending storm or disastrous situation. Guest Speaker Francis Kau will be coming from a personal and property protection perspective. Sheltering in place allows the homeowner to start preparing for post-disaster recovery, while at the same time, becoming a valuable resource if called upon to assist the community. He also will be using Dennis Hwang and Darren Okimoto’s “Homeowners Handbook, To Prepare For Natural Hazards, a the reference for his presentation.
RSVP Here: http://go.hawaii.edu/2aq
Wellness for Resilience Workshop w/ Virtual Forest Bathing (Shinrinyoku)
Please join us for a special JABSOM Mindful Practice session on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 with extended time from 12:00-1:00 pm. Flyer attached.
Our special guest, Dr. Miku Lenentine, will facilitate the session from our very own JABSOM Māla Lāʻau Lapaʻau where she will take us on a journey in nature through
Virtual Forest Bathing.
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Presented in partnership with the JABSOM Department of Native Hawaiian Health, the JABSOM ‘Ohana Mindful Practice Group, and the Kap’iolani Community College Center for Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE).
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Click HERE to register for just one or all of the sessions for 2023, then check your email for a Zoom confirmation with the login info.
Next month’s session will be facilitated by JABSOMs very own, Dr. Winona Lee, AAMC Diversity Officer, Director, ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program PI,, March 1, 2023, @ 12:30 pm via Zoom.
North Shore Resilience”HUB” Workshop
When: Wednesday, February 22th from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Waialua Intermediate and High School Cafeteria
67-160 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI 96791
Registration & Refreshments starting at 5:30 PM
Register to attend via the following link: https://go.hawaii.edu/xp2
Primary Urban Center Resilience “HUB” Workshop
When: Saturday, February 18th from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: United Susannah Wesley Community Center Gym Women In Faith
1117 Kaili St #3432, Honolulu, HI 96819
Registration & Refreshments starting at 8:30 AM
Register to attend via the following link: https://go.hawaii.edu/kDA
CERENE January Newsletter
Click HERE for more information.
Hawaiʻi Pacific Islands Campus Compact (which includes Kapi’olani Community College) and the Western Region Consortium are excited to announce our long-standing Continuums of Service Conference, happening March 14-17, 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Our local committee at Kapi’olani Community College, Denise Pierson, Miku Lenentine, Fran Acoba, and Bob Franco, along with our partners from Chaminade and UHM have been working tirelessly to create a fantastic experience for all of you!
This conference is dedicated to supporting social justice, sustainability, climate change mitigation and service-learning. Read more about this year’s theme, Turning the Tides, Renewing our Energy, HERE.
The vision for this four-day in-person / hybrid conference is to offer attendees an experience that is co-hosted by community and non-profit organizations, centers local and indigenous knowledge, and embraces transformational campus-community partnerships with opportunities for direct engagement.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit the conference website HERE.
This conference will not only highlight our community partners but it will also feature presentations from our CERENE Resilience Corps Leaders as they share the impactful resilience work they have been dedicated to during their work with Kapi’olani Community College and the greater community across the island.
East Honolulu Resilience”HUB” Workshop
When: Wednesday, February 15th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Wailupe Community Park, 939 Hind Iuka Drive
Registration, & Refreshments starting at 5 PM
Register to attend via the following link: https://go.hawaii.edu/fp2
Disaster Preparedness & Food System Resilience in Hawaiʻi
By Civil Beat, UHWO, Better Tomorrow Series, Waiwai
Friday, January 27, 2023, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM HST
Ka Waiwai 1110 University Avenue Honolulu, HI 96826
Presented by The Hawai’i Institute for Sustainable Community Food Systems at University of Hawai’i – West Oʻahu, Honolulu Civil Beat, UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, and Waiwai Collective, this series is meant to generate key opportunities for community dialogue among a diverse audience, aiming to achieve a healthy, equitable, resilient and sustainable food system for Hawaiʻi.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for booths, music and a complimentary pupu.
Speakers will start at 6 p.m., followed by an optional post-discussion community forum from 7 – 8 p.m.
Tickets are $5 + tax and fees.
A copy of the online recording could also be sent to you at no cost if you are not able to attend.
In May of 2022, the City of Detroit broke ground on the Community Center at AB Ford Park, a new 8,116-square-foot building that will host recreational, community and educational events and other activities. Powered by a microgrid that can operate independently from the grid, the center will also act as a resilient resource during emergencies, providing reliable electricity during grid outages or weather-related or other emergencies and helping with post-disaster recovery.
American Microgrid Solutions — a hybrid power systems developer specializing in community resilience — works closely with nonprofit partners and the community to define possible scenarios for Resilience Hubs and their power systems. After early-stage collaboration with independent consultancy muGrid Analytics, AMS refined the power systems using HOMER® Grid software from UL Solutions to model the new building.
Read more on HOMER Microgrid News
More Announcements from UL’s HOMER Software
– UL Solutions Releases New Features for HOMER® Grid Modeling Software to Enable More Detailed Cost Evaluations for Grid-tied Microgrids
– Find out how HOMER Grid can bring your hybrid power project to life with its many use cases
– Model Utility-Scale Hybrid Power Projects to Calculate Energy Savings with the New HOMER Front Software
– Watch the recording of the HOMER Microgrid Technology Workshop
– HOMER Engineer Hours Let you Hire a Specialist by the hour to help with your hybrid power modeling needs – Put a HOMER Expert on Your Team Today
– Sign up for HOMER Software training to become a microgrid modeling expert today
Join CERENE at the New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival Exhibit
Wai’anae Regional HUB Workshop
Community Partners and Hosts:
Aunty Nalani Benioni & Alicia Higa, Wai’anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center & ‘Elepaio Social Services
January 11th from 5 – 7:30pm at the WCCHC Dining Room
RSVP Here to Attend:
2022 NIH, National Institute on Aging – Director’s Regional Meeting
The Center of Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE) is partnering with the National Institute on Aging (NIH) to sponsor a virtual Director’s Regional Meeting on:
Dec. 2, 2022, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (HST)
We invite you to the half-day meeting on research and training for individuals new to aging research and those underrepresented in aging research. Please join us to learn more about research and training opportunities.
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/2Wb
Ko’olauloa HUB Workshop
Register to attend this upcoming community resilience “Hubs” workshop on:
Wednesday, Dec. 7th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the:
54-10 Kukuna Rd, Hauula, HI 96717
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/2p3
Registration, & Refreshments starting at 6pm
Ko’olaupoko HUB Workshop
Register to attend this upcoming community resilience “Hubs” workshop on December 1st from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the:
KEY Project Pavillion, 47-200 Waihe’e Rd., Kaneohe, Hawai’i.
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/Ap2
Kaiāulu Webinar Series
The Kūpuna Collective: Older Adults and Community Resilience
The Kūpuna Collective: Older Adults and Community Resilience
The needs of older adults must be considered during emergencies and natural disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a network of kūpuna-serving organizations called the Kūpuna Collective mobilized to provide critical support including meals, food boxes, and vaccine outreach. This webinar will describe the Kūpuna Collective’s efforts, lessons learned, future strategies, and opportunities to empower older adults to take active roles in supporting resilience efforts.
This webinar is hosted in Zoom, an online conferencing software. You must register for this webinar to receive the Zoom meeting link, which will be sent four (4) business days prior to the webinar date. Before joining the webinar, go to the Zoom Download Center to download the Zoom software to your computer or mobile device and review the computer system requirements to download Zoom.
About the Speakers
Dr. Christy Nishita
Interim Director, University of Hawaiʻi, Center on Aging
Co-Convener, Kūpuna Collective
Dr. Jenny Lee
Researcher, University of Hawaiʻi, Center on Aging
Head of Program Analytics, Kūpuna Collective
Derrick Ariyoshi
County Executive, Elderly Affairs Division
Advisor, Kūpuna Collective
Lindsey (Ching) Ilagan
Kūpuna Program Manager, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute
Co-Convener, Kūpuna Collective
Dr. Miku Lenentine
Program Coordinator, Center for Resilient Neighborhoods, Kapiʻolani Community College
Dr. Robert Franco
Director, Institutional EffectivenessCenter for Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE)
Professor, Pacific Anthropology
Kapiʻolani Community College
Kaiāulu Webinar Series Registration Form
RSVP HERE to receive zoom link: http://go.hawaii.edu/2aq
Kapi’olani Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training
4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI, USA
Email: kccocet@hawaii.edu
(808) 734-9211
Website: https://continuinged.kapiolani.hawaii.edu
Resilient and Renewable Energy Workshops!
Invitation to join this upcoming workshop series with Hawaiian Electric focused specifically on renewable energy!
This is a great compliment to our Action 15 HUB workshops.
Resilient and Renewable Energy Community Workshops (O’ahu)
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Open House)
- 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Hybrid Community Workshop)
Meeting Link: hawaiianelectric.com/communitymeetings
*All workshops will be livestreamed and recorded.
RSVP Here: http://go.hawaii.edu/296
Register to attend this upcoming community resilience “Hubs” workshop on October 12th via zoom.
Register to attend via the following link: http://go.hawaii.edu/fK2
Flyer to Share:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OV5mOHYNV5WfFAWhfFHIdQ7upDbo8-Qy/view?usp=sharing
“Forest Bathing” also known as Shinrinyoku (森林浴) is the practice of walking mindfully in nature to support health, wellness, and overall wellbeing.
It is a practice where personal wellness, renewal and resilience meet the love of the land, and the love of the forests.
This is a UH System-Wide invitation for Faculty, Students & Staff and community members!
Register here to receive zoom link: http://go.hawaii.edu/2gs
This is a short-form Virtual Forest Bathing Walk that is being offered as part of the Sustainability Across the Curriculum (SAC) Fall Gathering and Celebration. Dr. Miku Lenentine will be guiding the walk from the “field” and KCC sustainability educators will be the virtual support liaisons.
This will be the short-form version of this style of guided nature walk hosted live online through zoom. Dr. Miku will be out in a forested area in the Makiki Arboretum live streaming bird song and flowering trees for everyone to enjoy.
Virtual forest bathing is a creative way to support sustainability education, personal renewal and resilience, as well as deepen our connection to nature. The Virtual Forest Bathing offering is specially designed for people who donʻt have easy access to the outdoors (or are just very busy, overly stressed, and could use a break).
More information about Kapiʻolani Community Colleges’ SAC Sustainability Celebration Fall Gathering event can be found here:
More information about Virtual Forest Bathing Can be found Here:
http://www.wildlyvibrant.org/virtual-forest-bathing/
Event Flyer to Print or Share:
Virtual Forest Bathing Flyer – https://drive.google.com/
Full Sustainability Across the Curriculum Flyer –
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R4yLv05DXwJn0cC0tDoWZT54xse3SIx7/view?usp=sharing
Find more information at : hawaiianelectric.com/communitymeetings
Free FEMA Certification in Community Resilience!
Community Resilience (AWR-228) Course
Delivery Date: 10/11/2022 & 10/13/2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (US/Hawaii)
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor(s): Suzanne Frew | Sarah Miller
Course Description
Status: FEMA Certified
Description:
Resilient communities are better able to plan for and take action to mitigate the risks from hazards, increase the pace of recovery from destructive events, and adapt to changing environments.
This course demonstrates how to integrate risk and community-based collaborative strategies into plans and programs and introduces tools that help communities assess individual risks and vulnerabilities as well as introduces strategies to become more resilient and better prepared for natural disasters.
This one-day training course will provide state and local government agency staff and other stakeholder groups with background on natural hazards. In addition, the course will guide an approach to (1) assess community resilience and (2) develop next steps for improved resilience.
Through increased awareness of natural hazards and best practices, the course will enhance community resilience for state and local government agency staff that routinely interface with the community, private sector, and other stakeholder groups. The course will be designed for national implementation, while allowing integration of local concerns through case studies and focused group exercises.
The goal of this course is to increase awareness of the meaningful actions that you and your community can take to enhance resilience to natural hazards and opportunities to incorporate resilience into professional practice.
Course Modules:
- Understanding Risk from Natural Hazards
- Resilience Concepts
- Building Resilience
Target Audience:
- Citizen/Community Volunteer
- Emergency Management
- Governmental Administrative
- Emergency Medical Services
- Fire Services
- Law Enforcement
- Private Sector / Corporate Security and Safety
- General Public
Course Level: Awareness
Prerequisites: None
Requirements: None
Course Flyer: View PDF
APA Credit Units: 6.5 Certification Maintenance
ASFPM Credit Units: 6.5 Continuing Education Credits
IACET Credit Units: 0.6 Continuing Education Units
IAEM (E) Credit Units: 8.0 Emergency Management Training Credit Hours
Registration Information
Seats Available: 32
Registration Closes: 10/11/2022
Host Agency: Kapi’olani Community College, Kapi’olani Service and Sustainability Learning Program
Contact Person: Stephen Hughes (sthughes@hawaii.edu)
Registration Information (Two-step process):
1) NDPTC Registration:
https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3249/
2) Zoom Registration:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0scu2vrjssHNz3dqNd_sDu0U_R8TnXU1JZ
$1M grant for new economics pathway from Kapi‘olani CC to UH Mānoa
UH News – September 16, 2022
Back row left to right: Miku Lenentine, Candy Branson, Theresa Greaney, Denise Pierson, Sang-Hyop Lee, Jaclyn Lindo
A new economics pathway for minority students between Kapiʻolani Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is being created with a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). UH was one of only 10 universities nationwide to receive a five-year grant to support underrepresented groups at vulnerable career transition points who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The NSF held the competition for minority-serving institutions in Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research jurisdictions.
The project, “RII-BEC: Transcending Barriers to Success in Economics (TBSE) for Underrepresented Students: From COVID-Affected to Climate-Resilient,” aims to transfer 100 participants from disproportionately affected groups, including Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos and women.
The Economics Bridge Program will encourage students to take enriched introductory courses at Kapiʻolani CC and qualify for tuition-free summer courses at the UH Mānoa campus. Student peer mentors and ambassadors will personalize the pathway from an associate’s degree to a baccalaureate and to expedited graduate studies.
“In Hawaiʻi, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino communities, and on women,” said Bob Franco, co-principal investigator and director of Kapiʻolani CC‘s Office for Institutional Effectiveness. “These four groups are also seriously underrepresented in the field of economics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. At the same time, environmental challenges that are further exacerbated by climate change threaten these islands, wider Oceania and coastal communities in Asia and the Americas.”
Indigenous Economics
TBSE adopts the concept of “Indigenous economics” to contextualize economics coursework and provides student support services drawing on earlier NSF projects and previous federal investment in minority-serving programs. TBSE also leverages educational and research expertise at the two campuses.
“Economics has given me so many opportunities to make a difference in this world,” said Co-Principal Investigator Denise Eby Konan, UH Mānoa dean of the College of Social Sciences and economics professor. “We need to expand our frameworks to include Indigenous and feminist knowledge and perspectives. This collaboration with Kapiʻolani Community College will provide a national model for economics education and draw in students who previously had not considered this major.”
Active learning, peer mentoring, engaged research and internship opportunities will enhance the urgency and relevance of economics coursework so that students can embrace and ameliorate the challenges of biocultural restoration (restoring relationships between Indigenous people and their places) and climate resilience in their neighborhoods, communities, regions and world. The project will promote the progress of science by connecting key concepts and practices from Indigenous science and gender inclusion with economics curricula, instruction and research.
The project will also serve the national interest by diversifying Hawaiʻi’s workforce, amplifying Indigenous voices and values, and promoting biodiversity conservation and mixed economy and community enterprise models that contribute to nutrition, health, well-being, climate resilience, income generation and prosperity for all American households.
Invitation to join us for the first Resilience “HUBS” Workshop!
Please join us at our upcoming Community Resilience “HUB” Workshop focused especially on Vulnerable and At-Risk Neighbors. Hosted at the Waikiki Community Center on September 21st from 1:30 – 3:30pm. Invitation to join us after for a neighborhood networking social and “gallery walk” of resilience & disaster preparedness info tables.
RSVP by calling 923-1802 or sign-up online at: http://go.hawaii.edu/YV2
This workshop is part of a research study approved by the University of Hawaii. IRB:2022-00652.
FLYER to SHARE:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OV5mOHYNV5WfFAWhfFHIdQ7upDbo8-Qy/view?usp=sharing
I Heart Kapi‘olani CC
Posted on Aug 11, 2022 in Campus Life
In the spirit of reuniting our students, alumni, and community with the campus, we are hosting an in-person outdoor event called “I HEART Kapiʻolani CC”.
Date: August 18, 2022
Time: 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Place: Kapiʻolani Community College’s Great Lawn, at the heart of the Campus. Open to the public
After 100 years, is it the long awaited bridge to the fossil free 2050 climate goals?
Technology from the past informing today’s climate solutions September 2, 2PM HST
Register HERE
In the early 1980s, because of an oil Embargo, the US Federal Government enacted the OTEC Act and provided government funding to initiate the implementation of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants for the generation of electricity.
The long-term goal was to install hundreds of OTEC power plants by the year 2000. Unfortunately, by the middle of the 1980’s, government funding was curtailed before an OTEC plant of significant size could be operated.
However, 98 nations with the adequate ocean thermal resource within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were identified. Currently, world-wide numerical ocean-atmospheric models indicate that as much a 50% of the electricity currently consumed throughout the world could be generated with fossil free OTEC technology.
Please join us HERE for an interesting ZOOM session discussing the 100-year-old technology capable of providing power 24/7 with no carbon dioxide emissions.
Meet the Speakers
Dr. Hyeon Ju Kim is the Principal Researcher, Offshore Plant, and Marine Energy Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO)
Dr. Yasuyuki Ikegami is the leader of OTEC Division in the Institute of Ocean Energy at Saga University, Japan
Benjamin Martin is the secretary general for the Ocean Thermal Energy Association
Luis A. Vega, PhD, is a Renewable Energy Consultant, formerly at University of Hawaii Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.
Stan Osserman is our event moderator.
Eugene Tian, PhD, is the Chief Economist for the State of Hawaii.
RENEW REBUILD HAWAII, PO BOX 4658, Honolulu, HI 96812, US
Click HERE for more information.
June 7th, 2022
June 7th, 2022
May 15th, 2022
May 10th, 2022
Food Security in the News!
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Action 15 Team member, Cuong Tranʻs Masterʻs Thesis Defense
Developing resilience leaders at Kapi‘olani CC
Above: Smart Trees Pacific trains Citizen Foresters as part of the Service Learning program at Kapi‘olani Community College. Below: Measuring trees on the KCC campus during training.
Article by The UH Foundation
https://www.uhfoundation.org/impact/students/kcc-resilience-leaders
July 7, 2021
In the face of impacts on our environment because of climate change, Kapiʻolani Community College is pushing to develop new leadership to tackle these issues. Kapi‘olani CC will use a $25,000 grant from Hawaiian Electric to establish a new program that will develop Resilience Corps Leaders (RCL), the next generation of sustainability and resilience professionals, educators and neighborhood residents who can integrate sustainability and resilience competencies into their careers and communities. The program will run from Oct. 1, 2021, to Jan. 1, 2023.
Robert Franco, director of Kapiʻolani CC’s Office for Institutional Effectiveness (OFIE), will oversee the development of RCL, who will integrate academic learning, personal growth and civic responsibility across their curriculum. The RCL will further tie into the college’s proposed partnership with the City and County of Honolulu to establish a Center for Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE) to enhance community-based student learning through service learning, undergraduate research and internships focused on building resilience in O‘ahu neighborhoods and communities.
“Higher education around the world did not have time to plan for COVID and it slammed us all,” said Franco, who feels strongly that Kapiʻolani CC and the University of Hawai‘i must take the lead on sustainability.
“We have time, but not much, to plan for climate change. And like COVID, climate change does not care about borders and boundaries. We need to develop both interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships to build a productive future for our students and our neighborhoods.” —Robert Franco
“We recognize that training and personal emergency preparedness are critical to community resilience, but equally important are community engagement and awareness of the roles, risks and vulnerabilities of individuals, government, response agencies and businesses before, during and after a disaster,” added Kurt Tsue, Hawaiian Electric’s community affairs director.
“We believe Kapiʻolani Community College’s program to establish a resilience corps provides a sustainable path forward that will help communities across Oʻahu to be better prepared and able to rebound from any major disaster.” —Kurt Tsue
Initially, the grant will support 25 Kapiʻolani students as RCLs who will complete training provided by CERENE on community engagement as well as training by the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, a FEMA-based certified community resilience course. An additional 25 middle and high school students will serve as Resilience Advisors (RA). Once training is completed, RCL’s will be responsible for mentoring Kapʻiolani CC service learning and/or undergraduate research students to become Resilience Educators (RE). Together, the RCLs and REs will work with K-12 schools, local non-profits and neighborhood boards on resilience-related projects.
“Students will be supported to progress on the pathway from volunteer RA and RE positions to paid RCL positions over the duration of the program,” explained Franco. “Kapiʻolani faculty and staff in STEM and service learning programs will support the students, with coordination and evaluation by CERENE and its Advisory Board.”
CERENE will convene neighborhood-specific non-profits, public schools, government, emergency management and neighborhood board representatives to develop pandemic and disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans. The key objectives are to plan for and take action to mitigate the risks from hazards, increase the pace of recovery from destructive elements, adapt to changing environments, and integrate risk and community-based collaborative strategies into plans and programs. CERENE will serve the 55,000 residents in East Honolulu and the 440,000 residents in O‘ahu’s primary urban center.
About Kapʻiolani CC Service Learning
Service Learning (SL), by example, has successfully woven community engagement into course curriculum since 1995 and is proven to have increased student persistence and graduation rates. From 1995 to May 2019, nearly 15,000 of Kapi‘olani CC’s students contributed 325,000 hours to the community, averaging 21.7 hours per student. The college has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a leader in campus-community engagement since 2006.
Kapi‘olani CC’s STEM program faculty and staff have also developed and sustained innovative undergraduate research experiences. As a result, the program received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation. Data reflects that since 2017, an average of 132 students per semester have conducted research; 54 students have presented their research at national conferences, programs or competitions; 385 peer mentoring sessions have been delivered per semester, and 54 community and career partnerships have been developed.
More recently, the college initiated a Citizen Foresters Group, a collaborative project with students serving as volunteer scientists who map and care for urban trees to add to a community’s tree inventory. Members of the group serve as ambassadors for Hawai‘i’s urban forests as they collect usable data on trees in public urban areas, such as parks and commercial and residential streets.
The college also assists in feeding the hungry through a campus-wide effort in food distribution. Because of its service learning presence at the Waikīkī Community Center, Kapi‘olani CC is able to receive perishable food from Hawai‘i Food Bank thus providing families with both perishable and non-perishable food items. Volunteer faculty, staff and students provide an organized front in receiving, bagging and distributing food items to the cars lined up in a queue for curbside pickup.
What Is Resilience?
By Kendra Cherry, Verywell Mind
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-resilience-2795059
April 24, 2021
Resilience is what gives people the psychological strength to cope with stress and hardship.1 It is the mental reservoir of strength that people are able to call on in times of need to carry them through without falling apart. Psychologists believe that resilient individuals are better able to handle adversity and rebuild their lives after a struggle.
Dealing with change or loss is an inevitable part of life. At some point, everyone experiences varying degrees of setbacks. Some of these challenges might be relatively minor (not getting into a class you wanted to take or being turned down for a promotion at work), while others are disastrous on a much larger scale (hurricanes and terrorist attacks).
How we deal with these problems can play a significant role in not only the outcome but also the long-term psychological consequences. The good news is that there are things you can do to become more resilient.
What Is Resilience?
People who remain calm in the face of disaster have what psychologists call resilience.2 Resilient people are able to utilize their skills and strengths to cope and recover from problems and challenges. These problems may include:
- Job loss
- Financial problems
- Illness
- Natural disasters
- Medical emergencies
- Divorce
- Death of a loved one
Instead of falling into despair or hiding from problems with unhealthy coping strategies, resilient people face life’s difficulties head-on.
This does not mean that they experience less distress, grief, or anxiety than other people do. It means that they use healthy coping skills to handle such difficulties in ways that foster strength and growth. In many cases, they may emerge even stronger than they were before.
Those who lack this resilience may instead become overwhelmed by such experiences. They may dwell on problems and use unhelpful coping mechanisms to deal with life’s challenges.
Disappointment or failure might drive them to unhealthy, destructive, or even dangerous behaviors. These individuals are slower to recover from setbacks and may experience more psychological distress as a result.3
What Resilience Provides
Resilience does not eliminate stress or erase life’s difficulties.4 People who possess this quality don’t see life through rose-colored lenses; they understand that setbacks happen and that sometimes, life is hard and painful. They still experience the negative emotions that come after a tragedy, but their mental outlook allows them to work through these feelings and recover.
Resilience gives people the strength to tackle problems head-on, overcome adversity, and move on with their lives. In the wake of traumas such as the 9/11 attacks and the Hurricane Katrina disaster, many individuals demonstrated the behaviors that typify resilience—and they experienced fewer symptoms of depression as a result.3
Even in the face of events that seem utterly unimaginable, resilience allows people to marshal the strength to not just survive but to prosper.
Who Is Resilient, and Why?
Some people come by these abilities naturally, with personality traits that help them remain unflappable in the face of challenge. However, these behaviors are not just inborn traits found in a select few. Resilience is the result of a complex series of internal and external characteristics, including your genetics, physical fitness, mental health, and environment.5
Social support is another critical variable that contributes to resilience. Mentally strong people tend to have the support of family and friends who help bolster them up in times of trouble.
Resilient people may also show characteristics like:6
- Holding positive views of themselves and their abilities
- Possessing the capacity to make realistic plans and stick to them
- Having an internal locus of control
- Being a good communicator
- Viewing themselves as fighters rather than victims
- Having high emotional intelligence and managing emotions effectively
How to Build Resilience
Fortunately, resilience is something that you can build both in yourself and in your children. There are distinct steps that you can take to become more resilient.
Reframe Your Thoughts:
Resilient people are able to look at negative situations realistically, but in a way that doesn’t center on blame or brooding over what cannot be changed. Instead of viewing adversity as insurmountable, reframe your thoughts to look for small ways that you can tackle the problem and make changes that will help. Focusing on the positive things you can do can help get you out of a negative mindset.
You can also use this approach to help children learn how to better cope with challenges. Encourage them to think about challenges in more positive, hopeful ways. This way, instead of getting stuck in a loop of negative emotions, your child can learn to see these events as opportunities to challenge themselves and develop new skills.
Seek Support:
Talking about the difficulties you are coping with doesn’t make them go away, but sharing with a supportive friend or loved one can make you feel like you have someone in your corner, which could help you build your resilience. Discussing things with other people can also help you gain insight or even new ideas that might help you better manage the challenges you’re dealing with.
To help your child develop a support network, try modeling good social skills like sharing your feelings, being empathetic, cooperating with and helping others, and expressing gratitude—and remember to reinforce your child’s good behavior.
Focus on What You Can Control
When faced with a crisis or problem, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by things that feel far beyond your control. Instead of wishing there was some way you could go back in time or change things, try focusing only on the things that you can directly impact. Encourage your child to develop this skill by talking about their situation and helping them make a plan for how they can react.
Even when the situation seems dire, taking realistic steps can help improve it. No matter how small these steps may be, they can improve your or your child’s sense of control and resilience.
Manage Stress
Building healthy stress management habits is an effective way to increase your overall resilience. These habits could include behaviors that help your overall health, like getting enough sleep and exercise, as well as specific actions you can take during moments of stress, like:7
- Cognitive restructuring
- Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
- Expressive writing
- Learning biofeedback techniques
- Practicing effective communication
- Problem-solving
- Progressive muscle relaxation
With some practice, these skills can be learned and mastered by adults and children alike. Eventually, you or your child will feel prepared to face stressful situations and resilient enough to bounce back quickly. If you need help learning to keep your stress levels under control, consider enlisting the support of a cognitive therapist.
- Walker FR, Pfingst K, Carnevali L, Sgoifo A, Nalivaiko E. In the search for integrative biomarker of resilience to psychological stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017;74(Pt B):310-320. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.05.003
- Horn SR, Feder A. Understanding resilience and preventing and treating PTSD. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2018;26(3):158-174. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000194
- Lee J, Blackmon BJ, Cochran DM, Kar B, Rehner TA, Gunnell MS. Community resilience, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms: An examination of the Mississippi Gulf Coast 10 years after Hurricane Katrina and 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018;12(2):241-248. doi:10.1017/dmp.2017.61
- Shi L, Sun J, Wei D, Qiu J. Recover from the adversity: Functional connectivity basis of psychological resilience. Neuropsychologia. 2019;122:20-27. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.12.002
- Osório C, Probert T, Jones E, Young AH, Robbins I. Adapting to stress: Understanding the neurobiology of resilience. Behav Med. 2017;43(4):307-322. doi:10.1080/08964289.2016.1170661
- Reid R. Psychological resilience. Med Leg J. 2016;84(4):172-184. doi:10.1177/0025817216638781
- Rose RD, Buckey JC, Zbozinek TD, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a self-guided, multimedia, stress management and resilience training program. Behav Res Ther. 2013;51(2):106-112. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2012.11.003
U.S. Flooding Losses Will Spike 26 Percent by 2050 due to Climate Change, Researchers Say
Created: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – 13:54
Categories:
General Security and Resilience, Natural Disasters
A new study from researchers at the University of Bristol predicts that climate change will lead to a 26 percent increase in flood damages in the U.S. over the next three decades. The study, Inequitable patterns of US flood risk in the Anthropocene, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, collected data from flood insurance claims, building records, the census, and other sources to forecast how increasing global temperatures will impact flooding trends in the U.S., and determine which communities might be the most affected.
The researchers estimate the annual cost of flooding in the U.S. will go from $32.1 billion to $40.6 billion by 2050, a 26.4 percent increase. The prediction presumes that countries will reduce carbon emissions with targets set at the COP26 climate conference, thus if the targets are not met the costs could be higher. This study is in line with past research linking rising global temperatures with more frequent and intense flooding events.
Additionally, the study posits that underrepresented groups will be disproportionately affected by the increased flooding events. The researchers conclude that poorer White communities currently face the most immediate flood risks, but Black communities will witness flooding costs grow twice as fast in the future. Of course, geography has a large role to play, with many of the communities most at risk in the southeastern U.S. where more hurricanes are expected as temperatures rise going forward. Read more at the Washington Post or access the original study here.
2021 Third Costliest Year on Record for Natural Disasters2021 Third Costliest Year on Record for Natural Disasters
Created: Thursday, January 27, 2022 – 12:21
Categories:
General Security and Resilience, Natural Disasters
Last year was the third-costliest year ever recorded for weather disasters with over $329 billion in damages, according to a new annual report by insurance broker Aon.
In 2021, there were 47-billion-dollar weather disasters and a record breaking four mega disasters costing more than $20 billion each. Hurricane Ida in the U.S. was the single most costly event in 2021, causing $75 billion in damages. Based on insurer payouts, 2021 was the most expensive year ever for winter-related disasters. “Extreme weather events, some of which were enhanced by climate change, were particularly notable in the United States,” the report states, but adds, “as climate change influenced hazard behavior grows more volatile and severe, the expansion of population footprints will additionally grow the risk of costlier disasters.”
A positive trend is the declining deaths due to weather disasters. Around 10,500 people lost their lives last year. While any lost life is a tragedy, it is still a relatively low toll compared to the historical annual average. Indeed, the report notes, “Improvements in forecasting, evacuation planning/strategies, increased public awareness, and better building practices have all played a key role.” Moreover, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) there are three primary factors driving the increasing cost in disasters. These include climate change increasing the frequency of extreme events, increased exposure of valuable assets, and increasing vulnerability from more intense weather hazards.
The Aon report concludes with a call to action: “Bottom Line: Most of the world’s homes, businesses, and infrastructure were built to meet the needs for a 20th Century climate. As the effects of climate change accelerate, the need to prepare for the more intense events of tomorrow becomes more urgent with each passing day.” Read more at Yale Climate Connections.