Washington State emphasizes climate resilience planning, requiring local plans to consider changes in natural hazard risk due to fire, draught, flooding, severe storms, and sea level rise. Port Townsend has already positioned its comprehensive plan policies with this in mind, and the City will now work to review those policies to ensure they’re on target and effective.

This work will involve conversations with those who have experience dealing with climate change, eventually preparing a “sub-element” on the topic for inclusion in the comprehensive plan.

Much of this work is funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.