What is Resilience?
Resilience refers to a community’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a hazard event. Henrico County is taking action to make sure our community is resilient to hazards of today and the future.
How Are Hazards Changing?
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the challenges posed by climate change, such as more intense storms, frequent heavy precipitation, heat waves, drought, extreme flooding, and higher sea levels, could significantly alter the types and magnitudes of hazards faced by communities. Sea level rise, in particular, can have an impact on flooding in the coastal United States. In Henrico County, parts of Varina along the James River are vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. Learn more about sea level rise at Climate.gov. You can also access real-time gauge information for streams and lakes throughout Virginia by visiting the USGS National Water Dashboard.
What Action Is The County Taking?
Henrico County’s Department of Public Works is taking steps to protect people, property, and natural floodplains while increasing resilience. The Department oversees the Floodplain Management Program and has implemented different mitigation efforts, such as acquiring buildings to remove them from the floodplain and stream restoration projects that restore the natural floodplain. Some of Henrico’s resilience initiatives are featured below:
Voluntary Acquisition Program
Flooding can happen anywhere it rains—regardless of maps or past events. To help residents reduce the risk and strengthen community resilience, Henrico launched a Voluntary Acquisition Program to purchase flood-prone properties. Homeowners can choose to take part in the program, contributing to long-term safety and a stronger, more resilient community. The County is still working to develop the program and will provide more information when it is implemented.
Resilience Plan
Henrico County is developing a Resilience Plan to create strategies for a safer future. The Plan will assess risks, coordinate resilience projects, accelerate recovery, and guide future investments in our community. While flooding is the main focus, the plan will also address other hazards affecting residents and businesses such as landslides.
Resilience Storymap
Henrico County has produced an interactive Storymap to overview the history of flooding, efforts the County is undertaking to mitigate flooding, and what residents can do to get involved.
Protect and Insure Property
Henrico County is working to strengthen flood resilience for residents and businesses. With approximately 1,500 structures in floodplains, the County manages drainage issues, regulates development in and near flood zones, and collaborates with FEMA on flood studies and map updates. Henrico is also a participant in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), which earns residents with NFIP flood insurance a 25% discount on premiums, whether they live in a high-risk flood zone or not.
Floodplain Management Resource Library
Are you a resident or business owner in Henrico County who is interested in learning more about resilience efforts? Check out our resource library to view videos, download toolkits, and help spread the word about resilience in Henrico.