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The impact of climate change is already being felt in our
community, with more frequent heat emergencies, severe storms, flash floods and
droughts posing the greatest threats. Those threats can disproportionately
impact some of our highest risk communities, those with a reduced capacity to
adapt because of historical disinvestment and the marginalization of people of
color, immigrants, refugees and low-income residents. These communities can
experience more exposure and risk from climate hazards with limited resources
to mitigate the impacts. Resilience hubs can help.
As Montgomery County continues its work to reduce Green
House Gas (GHG) emissions and address climate-related risks through the Climate Action Plan, it
will hold a free workshop on Tuesday, May 21, on the role resilience hubs can
play in helping our community adapt and thrive. The “Resilience
Hub Workshop” will be from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic
Building, which is located at 1 Veterans Pl. in Downtown Silver Spring.
Resilience hubs are trusted gathering spaces that are
enhanced that are enhanced with solar microgrids and energy efficiency
improvements to ensure they stay operational during interruptions to the power
grid. They support and engage residents, distribute resources and reduce carbon
pollution while enhancing quality of life and assisting communities before,
during and after emergencies to minimize impacts and recover quickly. A
resilience hub may be located at a recreation center, faith-based or nonprofit
facility or multi-family housing building. They are designed to help
communities adapt to a changing climate and thrive.
The County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland
Security, in partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency
Response System and guidance from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network,
will host the workshop.
The workshop will be a dynamic, participatory training about
the underlying concepts and framework for building out effective resilience
hubs. It will feature discussions with experts about what a great resilience
hub looks like, and what is already happening locally. Panels will focus on how
to forge partnerships and maneuver logistical and financial hurdles in the
development of resilience hubs. Participants from County agencies, as well as
local nonprofit and faith-based partner organizations, are encouraged to
attend.
Learn more here about the workshop and register
now.