Municipalities play a critical role in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. UConn Extension’s EDEN program partners with local governments, emergency managers, planners, and community leaders to strengthen resilience across Connecticut’s towns and cities.
We provide science-based resources, training, and technical assistance to help municipalities address a wide range of hazards—from flooding and severe storms to public health emergencies and infrastructure disruptions. Our goal is to support informed decision-making, foster collaboration, and build capacity at the local level to protect residents, property, and natural resources.
Explore our programs and resources to learn how you can build resilience into your community.
Flooding and Hurricanes
Flooding and hurricanes are among the most destructive natural disasters affecting Connecticut communities. Access trusted, science-based resources.
Featured Programs
Adapt CT
Adapt CT is an outreach partnership between UConn’s Connecticut Sea Grant and the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) working to provide information, tools, trainings and workshop opportunities to assist municipalities, businesses and residents of Connecticut in their efforts to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. Drawing on expertise from faculty within multiple departments at UConn and other universities, municipal officials, consultants, and lawyers, we strive to share the most recent information and research that communities need to make decisions on how to best adapt to the climate change impacts facing Connecticut.
Connecticut Institute of Water Resources
The Connecticut Institute of Water Resources (CTIWR) at UConn provides resources to help homeowners and municipalities prepare for and respond to water-related emergencies. Through tools like drought monitoring, streamflow tracking, and its popular well water testing program, CTIWR equips communities with the knowledge to make informed decisions about water use, safety, and conservation. Their outreach includes fact sheets, training, and guidance designed to reduce risks and build resilience to climate-related events such as flooding and drought.
Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
Long Island Sound is an estuary with almost the entire state of Connecticut within its watershed. Wise use and conservation of our coastal and inland resources is critical to the health of Long Island Sound. The Connecticut Sea Grant Extension Program and UConn Extension support management efforts to conserve and protect ecosystems, habitats and living resources within Connecticut and the northeastern United States. Support of management efforts includes conducting research, education and outreach in coastal land use and community planning, habitat restoration and enhancement and water quality.
Sustainable and Resilient Communities
Connecticut Sea Grant‘s Program for Sustainable and Resilient Communities empowers Long Island Sound communities to plan for and respond to environmental challenges in ways that prioritize well-being for all. This work is part of our collaboration with the Long Island Sound Partnership (Sustainable and Resilient Communities – Long Island Sound Partnership) and includes resources and capacity support programs, geared towards decision-makers that assist them with planning and implementing resilience projects.
The Long Island Sound Resilience Resource Hub website is a central repository of resources and connections that helps local decision-makers locate relevant tools and resources tailored to their needs, and facilitates projects that enhance the sustainability and resilience of Long Island Sound communities.
Stormwise Forest Managment
The UConn Stormwise program, led through the Eversource Energy Center and Extension Forestry, is a forest and roadside vegetation management initiative designed to reduce the risk of tree‑related storm damage to power lines and grid infrastructure. It combines ecological research (e.g. wind resilience, tree biomechanics, remote sensing) with social outreach and practical guidance—working closely with utility companies, municipalities, landowners, and communities—to promote long‑term forest and tree care practices that increase resilience to storms while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of New England’s landscapes.
Featured Fact Sheets
Reducing Flood Risk in our Communities
Severe rain events and flooding in our municipalities and communities is becoming more common. Flood risk reduction involves adapting infrastructure and land use to increasing flood frequency and intensity along with mitigating human impacts on climate change. While strategies must be place specific, this fact sheet provides starting point guidance on how different stakeholders in Connecticut’s land and infrastructure can contribute to reducing floods.
Brush Fires in Connecticut: Be Aware, Be Prepared
In many parts of Connecticut stretches of warm, breezy weather with little rainfall can be the norm. While these conditions may seem typical and easy to take for granted in daily routines, they can become especially concerning during the spring season (before leaves have fully emerged), as well as during the autumn months (as dry leaves fall and accumulate). Drying leaves create a blanket of combustible material across landscapes. The combination of dry fuels and windy conditions increases the risk of forest and brush fires in both rural and suburban areas. Similar dry conditions are uncommon but possible during other months and can also lead to brush fires.
External Resources
- American Red Cross – Replacement clothing and goods
- American Red Cross – Prepare your workplace for emergencies
- FEMA – Real-time emergency information
- FEMA – Earthquake safety at work
- FEMA – Real-time emergency information
- Oregon Health Authority – Build a workplace preparedness kit
- CDC – Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities
- LLC University – Prepare my business
- Ready – Storm preparedness
- Ready – Storm ready and recovery
- Ready – Emergency food and water preparedness