Dimensions - January/February 2010/Annual Review 2009 - 16

Preventing Loss to Coastal Communities North Carolina Study Leads the Nation in Planning for Sea-Level Rise FEMA Photo/Mark Wolfe W ith the largest estuarine system on the United States Atlantic coast, an extensive barrier island chain, and more than 2,300 square miles of vulnerable land, the state of North Carolina risks losing trillions of dollars in assets to rising sea-levels. In 2009, Dewberry began collaborating with the Geospatial and Technology Management Office of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management to kick off the North Carolina SeaLevel Rise Risk Management Study, which will identify potential impacts related to sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and erosion for 20 coastal counties. Dewberry is providing project and technical management as well as outreach for the study. The firm is also facilitating collaboration among varied study participants and advisors, which include state, federal, and local agencies, academic resources from the University of North Carolina system, and nongovernmental stakeholders. Funded by a $5-million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the study aims to be the most comprehensive sea-level rise study conducted in the United States and will serve as a model for other coastal states. With information gained from this study, state and federal policy makers will be able to adjust their planning approachâ€“from mitigation planning to water resources to design of roadways and bridgesâ€“to reduce future losses in coastal areas due to sea-level rise and climate change. The risk assessment phase of the study is scheduled for December 2010 completion, with the final study report, to include evaluation of risk management strategies, completed by summer 2011. More information about the study can be found at: www.ncsealevelrise.com. Now in the fourth of ten phases, the study will evaluate various short- and long-term strategies to manage the risks from the effects of sea-level rise to North Carolina coastal communities. The study uses a scenario-based approach to evaluate potential changes in coastal flood hazards and the environmental, societal, and economic impacts due to sea-level rise. Changes in storm hurricane frequency and intensity associated with climate change will also be examined. The detailed assessment looks at multiple built and living systems such as agricultural and ecological; coastal structures, other buildings, and infrastructure, as well as the aquaculture and societal systems. Changes in coastal flooding hazards are being evaluated through 2100 to predict future conditions and impacts across all areas. Technically innovative aspects of the study include the development of a geomorphologic methodology to produce scenarios of how shorelines respond to rising sea-levels, hydrodynamic modeling of the impacts on storm surge, and development of a methodology to model future land use and development scenarios. Top: The North Carolina SeaLevel Rise Risk Management Study will provide information about potential hazards and risks to help North Carolina coastal communities develop and implement adaptation plans. Dewberry is a leading professional services firm with a proven history of providing architecture, engineering, and management and consulting services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clientsâ€™ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 40 locations and 1,800+ professionals nationwide. To learn more, visit www.dewberry.com. Headquarters 8401 Arlington Boulevard Fairfax, Virginia 22031-4666 703.849.0100 Chairman Sidney O. Dewberry* Vice Chairman Barry K. Dewberry* Chief Executive Officer Ronald L. Ewing* *also Board of Directors Chief Operating Officer Donald E. Stone, Jr. Board of Directors Harold L. Adams, Dan R. Bannister, Thomas L. Dewberry, John P. Fowler II, Karen S. Grand Pre, and John M. Toups Dimensions Â® DimensionsÂ® is published by Dewberry Corporate Marketing and Sales for the clients, associates, and employees of Dewberry. Contact Molly Wagner, editor, with comments at mwagner@ dewberry.com. Designed and photographed by Dave Huh. Â©2010 Dewberry. All rights reserved. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 10% Cert no. SW-COC-002284

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Dimensions - January/February 2010/Annual Review 2009

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