Coastal Conversations To Focus On Resilience

Coastal Conversations is hosting Mitigation or Adaptation – How Our Coastal Economy Can Be More Resilient in the Face of Certain Change, a free event taking place on November 15 at 2 p.m. at the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum in Downtown Mobile. Experts including Dr. Reid Cummings, associate professor of finance and real estate and executive director of the South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate and Economic Development; Justin McDonald, chief of programs and project management for civil works at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District; and Casi Callaway, chief resilience officer of the City of Mobile, will discuss “Sea Rise and the Impact to Our Coastal Economy, A Coastal Conversation.” They will explore topics such as the vulnerabilities of coastal infrastructure; the effects on tourism and recreational activities; challenges faced by the fishing industry; impacts to home and business owners; and shifts in real estate markets due to sea rise, storm surge and increased intensity of natural phenomena. Additionally, McDonald will share the Alabama Coastal Comprehensive Plan, a proactive and stakeholder-driven planning tool designed to facilitate a greater understanding of the dynamic social, environmental and economic landscapes that comprise coastal Alabama. Callaway will provide an update on the city’s resilience assessment, and Cummings will share results and trends from academic and industry research.