Municipal Vulnerability and Hazard Mitigation Plans for U.S. Municipalities | 2025

CLIENT

Contractor: Conservation Works, LLC.

University: Conway School of Landscape Design

Student Team: Maramia, John Johnson, Nellie Ostow

Municipality: Town of Florida, Massachusetts, USA

CHALLENGE

The town of Florida, Massachusetts, USA, hired Conservation Works, LLC to prepare a Municipal Vulnerability Plan (MVP) and Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The Maramia Team, as part of a graduate student team from the Conway School of Ecological Design, prepared the report, which begins to consolidate and analyze the hazards and risks that concern the community.

APPROACH

GIS, on-ground proofing, and community feedback were used to create an environmental, infrastructural, and societal resilience and risk assessment. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques guided residents, town leadership, and emergency response teams in mapping generational knowledge of the land and community. 

OUTCOME

The detailed assessment led to recommendations for the town and residents to prepare for improved resilience to known and unknown hazards. This MVP/HMP was the first phase of a larger state program to secure funding to implement action plans in the report. 

DELIVERABLE(S)

The client was provided with a 74-page report detailing the assessment and response recommendations.