ICLR’s Resilience in Recovery program
For the past 25 years, ICLR’s staff has been turning emerging scientific knowledge into actions that can be adopted by homeowners, builders, governments and other stakeholders to provide safer homes for all Canadians. The experience gathered over years of cutting-edge research and engagement has positioned ICLR as Canada’s leading disaster research institute, allowing its team to support adaptation initiatives with a variety of stakeholders, including municipal governments. In an effort to support local governments in their climate adaptation initiatives, ICLR launched the Resilience in Recovery program to support build back better initiatives in Canadian communities following severe losses.
Through this program, ICLR provides assistance to communities in an advisory capacity as they aim to build climate resilient homes and infrastructure following a major loss. Staff from the Institute are available following a flood, wildfire, tornado, hurricane, hailstorm or other climate hazard. We find scope for transformative improvement in community resilience to climate change during reconstruction of damaged homes, buildings and public infrastructure.
-Specific actions ICLR can take to support municipalities in their effort to build back better include:
-advice on how to rebuild damaged homes, structures and public infrastructure to be climate resilient;
-access to and support from top of the line researchers to inform on the scientific evidence and potential benefits of adaptation options;
-access to a network of dozens of Canadian municipalities leading the way in climate adaptation initiatives to build disaster resilient homes;
-support to enhance public awareness and engagement around preparedness for future hazards;
-support to connect with provincial governments around topics such as emergency assistance funding, change request to building codes, etc.
– connection with the insurance industry to better understand various insurance products;
ICLR has supported many communities such as Barrie, ON (2021 tornado), Calgary (2020 hailstorm) and Lytton (2021 wildfire) and will continue to work alongside more Canadian communities affected by extreme weather events during the recovery period.