Helping Flood-Prone Communities Build Resilience

At Resources for the Future (RFF), we believe that strong, science-based research can inform policy, inform better decisionmaking, and—importantly—help people solve real-world challenges.

In Pocomoke City, Maryland, a small, historic riverside community, rising sea levels are increasing flood risks and threatening homes, infrastructure, and the community’s long-term resilience. In response to these growing risks, RFF’s Margaret Walls and Emma DeAngeli worked with local leaders, engineers, community organizations, and residents to better understand the community’s vulnerabilities and what can be done to protect it. Their work combined cutting-edge flood modeling with detailed property data and on-the-ground engagement to identify practical, nature-based approaches to reducing flood risk and improving community resilience.

Their effort was deeply collaborative, bringing together partners from George Mason University, The Nature Conservancy, the State of Maryland, and the Pocomoke community itself. Community members helped shape the research from the outset, ensuring that proposed solutions aligned with local priorities. Together, the team reimagined flood-prone public spaces, including a frequently inundated park, and developed recommendations that could both improve community amenities and help manage floodwaters during storms.

The impact of this work extends well beyond Pocomoke City, offering evidence and practical approaches that can help other flood-prone areas strengthen their resilience for the future.

With your support, we can make more work like this possible, helping communities and decisionmakers access the evidence, tools, and insights they need to prepare for a changing climate and make sound decisions for the future.