Building Resilience to Natural Disasters on the Rockaway Peninsula - Spring

Advisor: Kathleen Callahan

This capstone project, prepared for Friends of Rockaway, develops a community-centered resilience framework for the Rockaway Peninsula following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The team evaluates the peninsula’s exposure to sea-level rise, storm surge, and socio-economic vulnerability, situating local risks within broader climate change projections and municipal resilience strategies such as PlaNYC and A Stronger, More Resilient New York. Through GIS mapping, stakeholder interviews, and community outreach, the team identifies disparities in social vulnerability, infrastructure fragility, and access to emergency services. The analysis emphasizes that resilience must extend beyond hard infrastructure solutions and incorporate social capital, civic engagement, and localized planning mechanisms.

The report’s principal contribution is a Community Engagement Toolkit designed to empower residents and local organizations to participate actively in long-term adaptation planning. By integrating resilience frameworks—including the Community Capitals Framework and the Social Vulnerability Index—the team proposes a peninsula-wide strategy that aligns physical adaptation measures with strengthened social networks and participatory governance. The findings underscore that Rockaway’s long-term recovery depends on coupling infrastructural investments with community cohesion, shared risk awareness, and inclusive planning processes. Ultimately, the project positions resilience as both a physical and social endeavor, providing Friends of Rockaway with analytical tools and actionable strategies to foster durable, community-driven climate adaptation.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.