The goal of the coastal resilience DOD liaison program is to assist coastal communities associated with military installations to become more resilient to coastal hazards.
Weather-related hazards, including hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires are critical national security issues and threat multipliers that are already costing billions of dollars and degrading mission capabilities. Coastal defense communities, which are those that are adjacent or economically tied to military missions, share these coastal resilience challenges. Resilience efforts in these areas need to be coordinated between military installations and their communities to protect life, property and mission readiness.
The coastal resilience Department of Defense (DOD) liaison program is designed to assist defense communities in becoming more resilient to coastal hazards by sharing expertise and making connections across Sea Grant, Department of Defense and community leadership.
The liaison works with Sea Grant coastal resilience specialists and others across the network to leverage expertise in resilience planning, water resources management, community engagement, communication, nature-based infrastructure, conservation, floodplain management and education to advance the sustainability of coastal defense communities and ecosystems.
The program is a partnership between Sea Grant and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, working with the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) and the DoD Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. Both national and Southeast regional priorities — including those in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi — guide the program that seeks synergies with relevant coastal resilience efforts. The liaison also supports the work of SERPPAS and REPI through leadership in their coastal resilience programs.
Resources
Resources and Tools for Coastal Resilience in Defense Communities
This page provides guidance for defense communities interested in understanding and planning for coastal hazards. Resources include everything from data on vulnerable sites in the Southeast to planning and training resources to case studies highlighting steps taken by other vulnerable communities to advance their resilience.
Federal and State Funding for Coastal Resilience in Defense Communities
This resource database features federal and state grant programs as well as state-based finance programs that are available for coastal defense communities.
Advancing Coastal Resilience in Mississippi Defense Communities
Facilitated through a partnership between the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS), Sea Grant, and the Department of Defense, this workshop aimed to build connections between military installations, government agencies, and climate resilience partners to support military readiness and community well-being. Participants focused on creating a shared understanding of regional climate threats while identifying collaborative, nature-based project ideas and federal funding opportunities to enhance the resilience of defense communities along the Mississippi coast.
Advancing Coastal Resilience in the Southeast Defense Communities
This report summarizes the Advancing Coastal Resilience in the Southeast Defense Communities workshop held at Parris Island in South Carolina. Organized by SERPPAS in collaboration with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, the meeting’s primary purpose was to foster mutually beneficial connections between the Department of Defense, federal and state agencies, and local partners to facilitate climate-resilient action in areas associated with military installations. The workshop focused on identifying shared coastal resilience challenges while exploring funding opportunities and nature-based solutions to protect both military readiness and the surrounding civilian communities.
