Maryland CRS Highlights

The Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) provides support for coastal communities participating in or exploring the CRS for flood mitigation though technical assistance efforts including the CoastSmart Communities Program, Maryland CRS Users Group, and Maryland Resiliency Partnership.

CCS promotes integration of coastal hazard adaptation planning into local decision-making through the CoastSmart Communities Program, providing tools, financial assistance, and a professional network to communities. Under its 2016-2020 Coastal Enhancement Plan, CCS is working to integrate CRS elements and activities into CoastSmart outreach and technical support. CCS is also promoting the use by coastal communities of the CoastSmart Communities Scorecard, a facilitated risk assessment and planning guidance tool, to augment the CRS application process.

CCS supports the Maryland CRS Users Group to convene CRS communities and flood mitigation experts for training and information sharing. In addition to quarterly Users Group meetings, CRS trainings are offered by the state flood program, Maryland Sea Grant, and FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD. CCS is also a partner in the Maryland Resiliency Partnership, which works with public and private entities to support hazard mitigation, floodplain management and coastal resiliency.