Building Resilient Communities in the Face of Climate Change

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

January 17, 2017 News

Mitchell Center Senior Fellow Linda Silka, a social and community psychologist by training, is part of the group Infrastructure and Climate Network (ICNet) comprised of over 60 academics, students, and practitioners dedicated to accelerating climate science and engineering research in the Northeastern United States. Established in October 2012 with support from the National Science Foundation, ICNet focuses on climate change and sea level rise impacts and adaptation for sustainable bridges, roads, and transportation networks.

Recently, Silka and ICNet colleagues published the report “Building Resilient Communities in the Face of Climate Change: A Resource for Local Communities.”

The report, published by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, is characterized by Silka as providing information to assist in the “communication around difficult issues such as climate change.” States the report, “The National Health Security Strategy of the United States calls on people and their communities to prepare for the threats to health that come with disasters and emergencies, to be ready to protect themselves, and to remain resilient in the face of such threats.

This strategy defines resilience as “the sustained ability of communities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity.” How can communities best incorporate resilience into their approaches and practices, especially in light of the potential consequences of climate change? This resource—prepared especially for community-based groups—provides information from the fields of psychology and other social sciences to help communities better understand and prepare for the adverse effects of climate change.

Read the full report here.