Resilience

As Hilton Head Island is a barrier island subject to the impacts of sea level rise and other climate related affects, it is vital that a plan be developed to enhance resiliency of the island's infrastructure and developed areas against future storm events and potential sea level rise.

In order to improve the resiliency of the island, the prudent application of climate change science and data to inform our administrative decisions, public policy, and infrastructure investments is critical. By using the most up to date models and sound information on future projections, we can assess vulnerabilities and enhance our adaptive capacity with tools and actions designed to protect the short and long-term interests of our residents and businesses and public infrastructure.

The Town has contracted with a highly qualified firm to develop a Resilience Plan for Sea Level Rise and Climate Adaptation specific to Hilton Head Island. The Town has no existing plan specific to this need, and intends future expansion of this plan being developed, to consider other threats.

This first phase of this project shall be to collect and compile information and conduct an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) that the Town possesses and faces with respect to sea level rise and climate adaptation.