This one-day performance-level training course provides training on the available tools for the assessment and planning for natural hazards and vulnerabilities that uniquely affect coastal communities. Examples of these hazards are short term events such as high surf, storm surge, and tsunami inundation, or long term threats from sea level rise and coastal erosion.

As a performance-level course, this course aims to provide a detailed overview of the tools and technologies available to assess the hazards and the vulnerabilities of coastal communities.   These tools include real-time data collection tools and technologies, as well as web-based assessment tools, such as NOAA’s Digital Coast tools.  The course will include a guided exercise in which participants will learn to apply these tools in conducting a vulnerability assessment in their coastal communities.  This course will build on the first course of the series, Coastal Hazards Awareness, by supplementing the awareness knowledge with tools and skills for practical use.

Course Modules:

• Coastal Hazards and Vulnerability
• Collecting Coastal Hazard and Vulnerability Data
• Web-based Assessment and Planning Tools

As a performance-level course, the target audience for this course are coastal managers, emergency managers and planners that perform coastal hazard assessments, vulnerability assessments, and develop hazard mitigation, recovery and resilience plans in coastal areas. The course is best suited for those with some technical experience working with coastal data and hazard analysis. The complete audience list would include emergency managers, coastal zone managers, federal/state/tribal/territorial/local government planners, developers, private sector planners and engineers, public utilities, and public works.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Determine the scope and approach for assessing coastal hazards and vulnerabilities in their coastal communities
• Identify data needs and sources for assessing coastal hazards and vulnerability in their community
• Conduct a preliminary vulnerability assessment in their community

NDPTC’s course, AWR-379: Coastal Hazard Awareness, will be required for this course. In lieu of AWR-379, participants should have experience working with and planning for coastal hazards.  Also it is encouraged that participants have a basic knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and have experience working with data and hazard analysis.

Wireless internet connectivity for instructors and participants.

Participants should bring a wi-fi enabled device to follow along with various tools and participate in group activities.

• Pre-test to be completed PRIOR to the course. Assists to assess familiarity with the course subject material.
• Post test to be completed at completion of course. To receive a FEMA issued Certificate of Completion, a post test score of at least 70% must be obtained.